Most of the conclusions were supported by the data. However, plant weight in the infected XSP10-silenced plants does not seem to be significantly greater than that of the infected control plants. The error bars on graph 3A of the transgenic infected plants (X1+, X2+ and X3+) seems to overlap the error bars of the control infected plants (C+). However, visually the transgenic infected plants (X1+, X2+ and X3+) pictured in figure 3C do seem larger than the control infected plants (C+), but perhaps not significantly so.
Several more future experiments are needed to determine whether or not XSP10 is an LTP and what its role is in Fol infection. Although XSP10 was shown to weakly bind saturated FAs, measuring intrinsic changes in fluorescence should be done to determine XSP10s specificity for certain substrates as well as dissociation constants. Also, it...
However, there are two possible explanations for this. The first is that reduced XSP10 protein levels are necessary for Fol to grown vigorously and cause infection. The second is that XSP10 is part of signaling pathway that is necessary for full symptom development. Therefore, further research is needed to determine the fungal biomass in the xylem sap of the XSP10-silenced infected plants vs. The control infected plants. Also, if XSP10 is part of signaling pathway it should be determined if it functions as a positive or negative regulator in that pathway.
Kasikov, Vladimir, Henk L. Dekker, Martijn Rep, and Frank L.W. Takken. "The tomato xylem sap protein XSP10 is required for full susceptibility to Fusarium wilt disease." Journal of Experimental Botany (2010): 1-11. Web. 28 Oct 2010.
