Figure 5

Reduced RAP2.4 transcript levels enhanced resistance to Botrytis cinerea. (A) Relative expression using qRT-PCR; (B) disease symptoms; (C) lesion diameter; and (D) fungal growth in leaves of rap2.4 T-DNA insertion mutant plants after drop-inoculation with B. cinerea. In (A), gene expression in Arabidopsis wild-type, rap2.4-1 and rap2.4-2 plants inoculated with B. cinerea at 18 hpi were compared to non-inoculated samples (0 hpi) and normalized to the expression of the control gene (AtActin2). In (C,D) data represent mean values ± SE (n = 20). ANOVA and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test were performed to determine the statistical significance between the mean values using SAS software⁶⁷. Mean values followed by a different letter are significantly different from each other (P < 0.05). All assays were repeated independently in triplicates with similar results. Wt, Col-0 wild-type; RAP2.4, related to AP2.4 gene; Bc ActA, B. cinerea ActinA gene; AtAct2, Arabidopsis Actin2 gene; dpi/hpi, days/hours post-inoculation.