Fig. 3

Heterologous expression of TLR3 in Arabidopsis thaliana represses trichome development. a Schematic of the 35S:TLR3-PHB construct. PHB is the vector used for gene overexpression in plants. b Representative nontransgenic Col-0 plant. c Representative TLR3-OE plant. d–n Transgenic plants show fewer trichomes, and trichomes have fewer branches (e, f, n). Red arrows point to a trichome with a single branch (e) and a trichome with two branches (f). As compared to Col-0 (g), the transgenic plants have a lower density of root hairs (h, i). Seeds of Col-0 and transgenic plants, without (j, l) and with (k, m) ruthenium red staining. The transgenic seeds are abnormal seeds, with a defect in mucilage (stained by ruthenium red; m). n Distribution of the number of trichome branches. o Distribution of the number of trichome density. p Distribution of the number of root hair density. Asterisks indicate significant differences relative to Col-0 (Student’s t-test; **, P < 0.01). Data are means ± SE