Fig. 6

Function of MdFLP in setting the GSA of adventitious roots. (a-e) The gravitropic response of adventitious roots was measured by the angles between empty vector controls and transgenic lines. Scale bars = 1 cm. 35S::MdFLP adventitious roots (b), similar to 35S::MdPIN3 (d) and 35S::MdPIN10 (e), display a smaller GSA than the empty vector controls (a). MdFLP-RNAi adventitious roots (c) have a larger GSA than empty vector controls. (f) Transcript levels of endogenous gravity-responsive genes in transgenic plant roots. Error bars indicate ± SD (n = 3, from three technical replicates). Values in (f) were derived from experiments that were performed at least three times with similar results, and representative data from one replicate are shown. (g) Distributions of adventitious root GSAs. Similar to 35S::MdFLP, 35S::MdPIN3 and 35S::MdPIN10 show stronger gravitropic responses than the empty vector controls, resulting in a smaller GSA. However, MdFLP-RNAi displays a larger GSA than that of the empty vector controls. Samples with different letters are significantly different: P < 0.05 (Fisher’s LSD mean separation test). (h) The content of IAA in the roots of transgenic lines after 20 d and 30 d. Similar to 35S::MdFLP, 35S::MdPIN3 and 35S::MdPIN10 show higher IAA content than the control. However, MdFLP-RNAi displays a lower IAA content than the control. Samples with different letters are significantly different: P < 0.05 (Fisher’s LSD mean separation test)