Fig. 7: Transient overexpression CaNHL4 in pepper enhances resistance to P. capsici, TMV, and P. syringae.

a The accumulation of Myc-CaNHL4 was quantified by western blotting at 2 d after agroinfiltration. A Myc:00 empty vector was used as a mock. b and c Transient overexpression of CaNHL4 decreases the infection of P. capsici. Disease lesions were stained with trypan blue and measured. d–f Transient overexpression of CaNHL4 inhibits the infection of TMV-GFP. The accumulation of TMV-GFP in CaNHL4 overexpressing leaves was reduced. The number of TMV CP transcripts significantly decreased, and the accumulation of My-CaNHL4 protein also decreased. g–i Transient expression of CaNHL4 decreases the infection of P. syringae. The disease development of P. syringae is presented, and the lesion size was measured at 2, 4, and 6 dpi. The expression of HrpZ gene was quantified by qPCR, revealing bacterial mass in the infected leaves at 4 dpi. The HrpZ gene expression levels were normalized to the expression of pepper actin. All experiments were repeated three times and showed similar results. The values represent the means ± standard errors (SEs) of three biological replications. The statistical analyses were performed using Student’s t-test (∗0.01 < P < 0.05; ∗∗0.001 < P < 0.01; ∗∗∗P < 0.001).