Silencing of GhPMEI3 enhances cotton susceptibility to V. dahliae infection. A, Wild-type cotton plants infiltrated with Czapek liquid medium or a V. dahliae spore suspension. B, Plants in which GhPMEI3 was silenced by VIGS, named GhP1, were infiltrated with Czapek liquid medium or a V. dahliae spore suspension. C, Another VIGS-silenced cotton line, named GhP2, was infiltrated with Czapek liquid medium or a V. dahliae spore suspension. Whole plants are shown 21 d postinfection. D, RT-qPCR analysis of GhPMEI3, GhPME2, and GhPME31 expression in the control and silenced cotton plants postinoculation with V. dahliae, with GhUBQ7 as an endogenous control. The experiments were performed in triplicate and yielded similar results. E, The activity of GhPME2 and GhPME31 in the control and silenced plants following inoculation with V. dahliae. F, Relative VdPG1 levels in the control and silenced plants after inoculation with V. dahliae. G, Fungal biomass, as determined by RT-qPCR (R.Q.) in the control and silenced plants following inoculation with V. dahliae. The experiments were performed in triplicate and yielded similar results. Asterisks indicate a significant difference from the CK (Student’s t test; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01).