Figure 6.

Isoform-specific knockdown of HvFTZ-F1 in fourth-instar H. vigintioctopunctata larvae. The newly molted fourth-instar larvae were injected with an aliquot (0.1 μL) of solution including 500 ng dsegfp, dsαFTZ-F1 or dsβFTZ-F1. The larvae were then transferred to potato foliage. Three days after injection, transcript levels of two isoforms (A), HvαFTZ-F1 (B) and HvβFTZ-F1 (C) were measured. Relative transcripts are the ratios of relative copy number in treated individuals to dsegfp-injected controls, which was set as 1. The larval mortality, pupation and emergence rates were recorded during a 3-week trial period (D–F). Three biological replicates were repeatedly marked with red dots. The values represent means (±SE). Different letters indicate significant difference at p-value < 0.05 using analysis of variance with the Tukey–Kramer test. Dorsal (G,H,K,M) and ventral (L,N) views of resultant beetles were shown. The pupal heads of dsegfp- and dsαFTZ-F1-treated ladybirds were further amplified (I,J).