Fig. 1
NbERK1 regulates plant resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and chitin-induced immune responses in Nicotiana benthamiana. a Representative leaves showing lesions of N. benthamiana (pre-treated with TRV:GFP, TRV:NbERK1, or TRV:NbERK1-1) caused by S. sclerotiorum. Photos were captured 24 h post-inoculation (hpi). Bars, 1 cm. b Lesion areas caused by S. sclerotiorum on TRV-treated plants. Six leaves were counted in each replicate. The experiment was repeated three times. Error bars indicate ± SD (Student’s t-test, **P < 0.01). c The expression of NbERK1 is induced by chitin treatment in N. benthamiana. N. benthamiana leaf discs were incubated in a 96-well plate with 200 μL water overnight and treated with 200 μg/mL chitin. The expression of NbERK1 was analyzed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Error bars represent fold changes (± SD). d MAPK activation of N. benthamiana (pre-treated with TRV:GFP, TRV:NbERK1, or TRV:NbERK1-1) treated with 200 μg/mL chitin. α-pTEpY antibody was used to detect MAPK activation. Protein loading was determined by Ponceau S staining. e ROS production of N. benthamiana (pre-treated with TRV:GFP, TRV:NbERK1, or TRV:NbERK1-1) treated with 200 μg/mL chitin. f Relative expression of pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) marker genes (PTI5 and Acre31) in N. benthamiana (pre-treated with TRV:GFP, TRV:NbERK1, or TRV:NbERK1-1) induced by 200 μg/mL chitin at 3 hpi. Error bars represent fold changes ± SD (Student's t-test, **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001)