Fig. 2

Silencing of HvARM1 in H. vulgare affects quantitative resistance against B. graminis f.sp. hordei. a Transcript abundance of the HvARM1 target gene and its possible off-target HvPUB15 was determined by RT-qPCR in RNA from leaves of non-inoculated plants. Normalized transcript abundance relative to the HvUBC reference gene encoding an E2 ubiquitin conjugating enzyme (see Additional file 3: Methods S1) was further normalized to the mean value of azygous segregants (set to “1”). Mean values ± SE from 3 biological replicates (batches of plants sown on different dates) are shown. b Detached second leaves of T3 transgenic barley RNAi plants were inoculated with Bgh and infection was assessed microscopically 48 h after inoculation. Data represent normalized colony density (number/cm²/median of azygous control per experiment) ± SE from 2 to 3 biological replications. a, b Statistical differences between transgenic events and azygous plants are indicated by asterisks. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.005, ***p < 0.0005 (Student’s t test; two-tailed)