*2.2. Confirmation of Interaction between IlAP2 and IlMT2a*

We re-inserted the complete *IlAP2* sequence into a pGADT7 vector and verified the interaction between IlAP2 and IlMT2a by Y2H based on the screening results using SD-Trp-Leu-Ade-His (QDO plates) [3,32]. The positive control (BD-53 + AD-T), negative control (BD-Lam + AD-T) and yeast cells co-transformed with PGADT7–*IlAP2* and PGBKT7– *IlMT2a* all grew normally in the SD-Trp-Leu medium, while only the positive plasmid and yeast cells co-transformed with PGADT7–*IlAP2* and PGBKT7–*IlMT2a* turned blue in the SD-Trp-Leu/X-α-Gal medium, indicating that IlAP2 and IlMT2a interact in yeast (Figure 3a). In addition, we carried out a BiFC experiment. *A. tumefaciens* containing *IlAP2*–NYFP and *IlMT2a*–CYFP plasmids were co-injected into tobacco leaves. The obvious

interaction between IlAP2 and IlMT2a was verified again. The BiFC fluorescence was located in the nuclear region (Figure 3b).

**Figure 3.** Interaction between IlAP2 and IlMT2a: (**a**) yeast two-hybrid analysis of IlAP2 and IlMT2a, with BD-53 + AD-T as positive control and BD-Lam + AD-T as negative control; and (**b**) BiFC analysis of IlAP2 and IlMT2a, with BRZ1-nTFP + HLH40-cYFP as positive control and 35S::nYFP + 35S::cYFP as negative control. Ruler: 20 μm.
