Fig. 5: RDV exploiting NcVg effector to suppress H₂O₂ burst of rice plants for facilitating transmission.

a, b Knockdown of NcVg expression in leafhoppers reducing RDV accumulation in salivary glands and release to plants, as determined by RT-qPCR a and western blot b assays. Data in a are shown from salivary glands of 30 dsGFP- or dsNcVg-treated viruliferous leafhoppers. The proteins were detected using NcVg-, P8-, or histone H3-specific antibodies in western blot assays, and relative intensities of bands are shown. c Knockdown of NcVg expression in viruliferous leafhoppers enhancing H₂O₂ burst and metabolism in rice plants, as determined by content of H₂O₂ and MDA, as well as activity of CAT and POD. Data are shown from 1 rice seedling exposed to 30 dsNcVg- or dsGFP-treated viruliferous leafhoppers. d Knockdown of NcVg expression in viruliferous leafhoppers increasing the number of feeding holes, as determined by DAB or H2DCFDA staining. Data are shown from 1 leaf of a rice seedling exposed to 5 dsNcVg- or dsGFP-treated viruliferous leafhoppers for 12 h. e Knockdown of NcVg expression disadvantageous for viruliferous leafhoppers feeding, as determined by EPG technique. Each dsNcVg- or dsGFP-treated viruliferous leafhopper was continuously and electrically recorded during a 3-hour feeding period. Means ( ± SD) are shown and represent 13 valid biological replicates. f Knockdown of NcVg expression in viruliferous leafhoppers reducing the RDV transmission rate. Means ( ± SD) are shown from 50 dsNcVg- or dsGFP-treated viruliferous leafhoppers individually feeding on 1 rice seedling. Data in a, b, c, d, and f represent at least 3 biological replicates. Means ( ± SD) in a, c, d, e and f are analyzed using two-tailed t-test. Ns, not significant.