Extended Data Fig. 2: Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of dsRNA-LDH (BioClay) show uniform BioClay distribution upon leaf deposition.

a-d, SEM images of Syntaxin dsRNA-LDH deposition on the adaxial (upper) surface of a cotton leaf (a,c) around stomata (b,d). The images adopted signals in backscattered electron (BSE) mode that can visualize the contrast of materials. In this mode, the BioClay deposition pattern on the leaf surface became visible (indicated by yellow arrows), which is not distinguished in the common UVD signal mode. The images after 2 h (ii and iii) and 14 days (iv and v) from treatment, with (iii and v) and without (ii and iv) washing, illustrated the uniform distribution of BioClay on the leaf surface, as well as the consumption and the fastness of BioClay. Scale bar = 50 μm and 500 μm.