Fig. 2

Visual and molecular phenotypes of HCT1-RNAi transgenic plants (HCT1Ri). A T1 generation null segregant (Control; left) and HCT1Ri transgenic (HCT1Ri-24 line, right) plants at R1 stage of development. B Lignin monomer content in stems of plants from null segregant (control) and HCT1Ri lines sampled at R1 stage. Values represent mean ± S.D. of three biological (plant) replicates. For G and S monomer levels, no significant differences were seen between lines at the 0.05 significance level. For G and S monomer levels, no significant differences were observed between lines at the 0.05 significance level. Non-identical letters in red indicate significant difference in the H monomer levels between two lines at the 0.05 level determined by ANOVA and least significant difference (LSD) test. Guaiacyl (G), syringyl (S) and p-hydroxyphenyl (H) lignin monomers were measured. CWR cell wall residue. C Root architecture of 1-month-old plants. D Relative transcript levels of HCT1 and HCT2 in control and HCT1Ri plants representing 28 independent transformation events at 1 month post sub-tillering. Expression of Ubq1 in these plants was analyzed and used to normalize HCT expression levels across lines. Relative treatment level values (vertical axis) are normalized to the HCT2 control value set at 100%