Figure 4.

Observation of mycelial morphology using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM), and transcript of genes associated with cell wall biosynthesis in the WT and mutants. (A) Mycelia of each strain were examined using SEM. Bar = 20 μm. White arrows: the fragmented mycelial surface; (B) Observation of hyphal cells by TEM. Bar = 1 μm (WT) or 0.5 μm (mutants). Black arrow: separation of cell wall and cell membrane. (C) Comparison of Woronin bodies between the WT and mutants. The hyphae of each strain cultured at 28°C in PD broth for 18 h, after which, post fixing in 2.5% glutaraldehyde, samples were examined by TEM. Red arrow: hyphal septum; white arrows: Woronin body. Bar = 0.5 μm. (D) RTLs of selected genes involved in cell wall synthesis of the WT and ΔAoBck1 mutant at different time points. (E) RTLs of selected genes involved in cell wall synthesis of the WT and ΔAoMkk1 mutant at different time points. CK under given conditions, using CK with an RTL of 1 as the standard, statistical analysis was performed on the RTL of each gene in each mutant and the WT strain. An asterisk indicates a significant difference compared to the WT (p < 0.05).