Figure 4

Expression analyses of MdHsfs in developing flowers and fruits. Quantification of messenger RNA levels was performed in developing flowers corresponding to the tight cluster, full pink and full bloom stages (FLS1, FLS2, FLS3) and in developing fruits of 10, 15 and 20 mm in diameter (FUS1, FUS2, FUS3). The relative expression of MdHsf genes in flower/fruit/different stages was calculated in relation to young leaves of 3–5 cm in length. The qRT-PCR analysis results were normalized using EF1, Tip-41 and IMPA9 as housekeeping genes. Each bar represents the average of the relative expression levels from three biological replicates.