Fig. 2

Silencing CSEP01552 affects ethylene in H. brasiliensis. a Ethylene content at the infected sites inoculated with CSEP001552-silenced (-CSEP001552) strain was elevated compared to that of the sites inoculated with the wild-type (WT) fungi. The samples were collected at 5 dpi and subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) analysis. Statistical differences are marked with asterisks (n = 9 leaf discs from 3 independent experiments. ** P < 0.01, Student’s t-test). b The pathogenicity of EqTub2- and CSEP01552-silenced strains in H. brasiliensis leaves treated with mock (distilled water) or aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG). Photographs were captured at 7 dpi. c Lesion sizes were determined at 7 dpi. Statistical differences are marked with asterisks when two groups are compared (n = 9 leaf discs from three independent experiments. ** P < 0.01, Student’s t-test). d Microscopic analysis of haustoria produced by strains in the leaves with mock and AVG. Zoom-in panels are magnified views of the sites labeled with white boxes. Scale bars: 50 µm. e The quantification of the haustoria. Statistical differences are marked with asterisks when two groups are compared (n = 9 leaf discs from three independent experiments. ** P < 0.01, Student’s t-test)