ABSTRACT
Resistance genes are the most effective weapons against the onslaught of rice pathogens, especially, blast, caused by Magnaporthe oryzae. Resistance is induced by specific recognition of the pathogen secreted avirulence (Avr) gene products and activation of immune responses at the site of infection. Species and cultivar specificity is governed by the presence or absence of the Avr gene products called effectors or elicitors that accumulate in the biotrophic interfacial complex (BIC) and are delivered into plant cells (cytoplasmic effectors) or dispersed in the extracellular space between the fungal cell wall and the extra invasive hyphal membrane (EIHM) (apoplastic effectors). M. oryzae invasion is critical to the final outcome of the level of rice blast resistance. Recent findings have shown that plants can rapidly develop effective effector-triggered immunity (ETI) to inhibit pathogen growth when PTI overcome by newly evolved pathogen effectors.
