Figure 7.

UvCGBP1 regulates virulence through mediating MAPK pathway. (a) Expressions of UvPmk1 and UvSlt2 in the WT and ∆UvCGBP1-33 during the early infection process (1–3 dpi) by qRT-PCR. Asterisks represent significant differences between the WT and mutant based on LSD at P = 0.05. (b) Virulence assays of UvPmk1 and UvSlt2 deletion mutants on rice spikelets at 21 dpi. (c) Infection development of UvPmk1 and UvSlt2 deletion mutants on rice spikelets under SEM at 1 and 6 dpi. Scale bars = 50 μm (1 dpi) and 100 μm (6 dpi). (d) Western blot analysis of proteins extracted from PSB-cultured hyphae of the ∆UvCGBP1-33 and WT using anti-p42/44 antibody. The WT loading set was considered as 1.00, and relative quantified signals of each band were calculated. (e) Colony morphology of UvPmk1 and UvSlt2 over-expression mutants in ∆UvCGBP1-33 and WT on PSA for 14 days. (f) Mycelial growth of ∆UvCGBP1-33, OEUvPmk1-1, OEUvSlt2-1 and the WT on PSA for 14 days. Asterisks represent significant differences between the ∆UvCGBP1-33 and OEUvPmk1-1 based on LSD at P = 0.05. (g) Virulence assay of the over-expression mutants in ∆UvCGBP1-33 on rice spikelets at 21 dpi. (h) Disease incidence in rice panicles. (i) Mean number of smut balls per panicle. Asterisks represent significant differences between the WT and other strains based on LSD at P = 0.05