Fig. 2: F. graminearum delivers FgEC10 protein into wheat cells and suppresses plant basal immunity.

a FgEC10-GFP protein was detected in the total proteins of F. graminearum and culture filtrate using western blot analysis. The WT and GFP-transformed strains served as negative controls, and GAPDH protein levels were used as the internal control. b GFP signals in plant cells were examined. Wheat coleoptiles were infected with the indicated strains expressing GFP or FgEC10-GFP. Bar, 20 µm. c Callose deposition in N. benthamiana leaves expressing GFP or FgEC10-GFP after elicitation by flg22 or chitin. Bar, 1 mm. d The number of calloses in (c) from three biological replicates. e ROS accumulation induced by flg22 or chitin in N. benthamiana leaves expressing GFP or FgEC10-GFP. Data from six to eight biologically independent samples. f Transcript levels of TaPR5 and TaMAPK3 were evaluated in wheat heads inoculated with WT or ∆FgEC10 mutant. The TaACT gene was used for normalization. All the data are presented as means ± SD from three independent replicates (one-tailed Student’s t-test).