Figure 6

Comparison of PP2OETAt1 and transgenic control plants in organ-unspecific AtPP2-A1 expression and effects on colonization and phloem feeding by aphids. (a, b) In the experiments, PP2OETAt1 was compared with the transgenic control plant (Control); 35-day-old plants grown in long day were investigated. (a) Southern blot hybridized with the AtPP2-A1-specific probe. Prior to blotting, the genomic DNA had been digested with the restriction enzymes BamH I (B) and Sac I (S). (b) Northern blots hybridized with probes specific to AtPP2-A1 and the reference gene EF1α. (c) Real-time RT-PCR analysis of AtPP2-A1 expression in the different organs of the plants. The gene transcript was quantified as mean ± SD (n = 3 repeats) relative to reference genes and normalized to null-template controls. (d) Total duration of the phloem phase in a four-hour EPG monitoring course. Uniform aphids were placed on the indicated organs. Feeding activities were detected immediately with an EPG monitoring system, and total duration of the phloem phase (mean ± SD; n = 20 aphids) was scored.