Fig. 6

Evaluation of root and physiological parameters in the VIGS-treated cotton plants: a phenotypic evaluation of the mutant and wilt types under drought and cold stress conditions, photographs done after 8 days and 6 h under drought and cold stresses respectively, in each replication 12 plants were used. b RT-qPCR analysis of the change in the expression level of the Gh_A07G0747 (GhTOM1) gene on the leaf of the cotton plants treated with VIGS. c Root evaluation under drought stress, photographed after 8 days of stress exposure. d Root length determination. e Chlorophyll content in the TRV2 empty vector-carrying plants and Gh_A07G0747 (GhTOM1)-silenced resistant plants. f The excised leaf water loss (ELWL) level in the TRV2 empty vector-carrying plants and Gh_A07G0747 (GhTOM1)-silenced resistant plants. g The relative leaf water content (RLWC) in the TRV2 empty vector-carrying plants and Gh_A07G0747 (GhTOM1)-silenced resistant plants. h The cell membrane stability (CMS) evaluated through ion leakage in the TRV2 empty vector-carrying plants and Gh_A07G0747 (GhTOM1)-silenced resistant plants. Letter a/b indicated statistically significant differences (two-tailed, p < 0.05). Error bars of the represent the standard deviation of three biological replicates