Fig. 9

Silencing of CsGRF04 by virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) alters abiotic stress resistance in C. sinensis. A Phenotype of 1-month-old WT and CsGRF04-VIGS plants before (left panels) and after (right panels) salt treatment. NC: normal condition. B, C Electrolyte leakage (EL) (B) and chlorophyll content (C) of WT and CsGRF04-VIGS plants before and after the salt treatment. D Phenotype of 1-month-old WT and CsGRF04-VIGS plants under NC (left panels) and after recovery (right panels) of cold treatment (8 h at -4 °C and 3 days at ambient temperature). E, F EL (E) and chlorophyll content (F) of WT and CsGRF04-VIGS plants before and after the cold treatment. G Phenotype of 1-month-old WT and CsGRF04-VIGS plants before (left panels) and after (right panels) drought treatment. H, I EL (H) and chlorophyll content (I) of WT and CsGRF04-VIGS plants before and after the drought treatment. Error bars represent ± SE (n = 3). ns: not significant. Asterisks indicate significant differences between CsGRF04-VIGS and WT plants (***P < 0.001). The scale bar indicates 1 cm