Fig. 8

Transposable element insertions regulate Zmr1 expression and melanin accumulation in Z. tritici populations. a Schematic representation of the location and classification of the transposable element insertions upstream of Zmr1 in different Z. tritici strains from a worldwide collection. The transposable elements were classified according to the three-letter code described in Wicker et al. (2007) [100]: The first letter indicates the class (R = RNA class and D = DNA class); the second letter indicates the order (I = Line, T= TIR, X = unknown); and the third letter indicates the superfamily (L = L1, M = Mutator, T = Tc1-Mariner, X = unknown). b Transposable element insertions upstream of Zmr1 significantly contribute to a reduction in melanin accumulation, according to Kruskal-Wallis (p value = 0.0008, indicated with asterisks). Gray value distributions of Z. tritici strains with and without transposable element insertions upstream of Zmr1. The experiment was performed three times and we obtained similar results. c Transposable element insertions upstream of Zmr1 negatively affect Zmr1 expression (Kruskal-Wallis, p value = 0.035, indicated with asterisks). Distribution of the mean expression of Zmr1 (relative to 3D1 at 7 days post inoculation) in each Z. tritici strain with and without transposable element insertions upstream of Zmr1. The experiment was performed twice with similar results