3.5 Fungal detection in infected anthers
We extracted DNA from T. laevis and T. controversainfected anthers to detect the fungus. The expected 660 bp band
of T. laevis was detected in the infected anther samples (FigureS2a ) and expected 372 bp band was detected from the T.
controversa infected anther samples (Figure S2b ). Based on the
detection of the specific SCAR of both pathogens, we recognized the
tested anthers were infected successfully by T. laevis orT. controversa .
3.6 Effects of T.
laevis infections on wheat anther development
We studied the effects of T. laevis on the development of EPI,
EN, TA and PG cells in wheat anthers. Our results showed that the hyphae
were seen in EPI cells at 800 µm (Figure 4A-C ). As shown in
Figure 4D-F , the fungus was growing from EPI to EN cells when
anthers were growing from 800 µm to 1220 µm. Hyphae were also seen in TA
and PG cells when anther reached 1300 µm and 1520 µm, respectively
(Figure 4G-L ). All above results suggested that fungus grows
from EPI cells to PG as anther grow. Additionally, according to
timeline, normal TA cells should disappear at 1300 µm (Figure1 ), but TA was still present in 1300 µm in T. laevisinfected anthers. These changes showed irregular development of anther
cells after fungal infection.