Fig. 6

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the cuticle and trichomes on the surface of A. annua leaves. a Smooth surface of WT A. annua leaves. b Coarse and fibrous surface of A. annua TLR3-OE leaves. c A TLR3-OE leaf with detached cuticular wax visible on its surface. d Smooth surface of WT A. annua leaves without white wax crystals. e, f TLR3-OE leaves show uneven distribution of white wax crystals. g A normal glandular trichome on a WT A. annua leaf. (h, i, l) Abnormal glandular trichome on a leaf of an A. annua TLR3-OE plant. j Few abnormal glandular trichomes (red arrows) are visible on WT A. annua leaves. k Many abnormal glandular trichomes (red arrows) are visible on the leaves of A. annua TLR3-OE plants