Abstract

To observe the fine behavior of the blast fungus in planta under a confocal laser scanning microscopy, the transformants expressing enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) were inoculated to the compatible (S) and incompatible (R) cultivars. The conidia normally germinated and formed appressoria on any cultivars. But the penetration in R interaction was strongly inhibited. Around 48 hpi and later 72 hpi, more clear differences were observed in growth of the invasive hyphae (IH) and also in planta response of the attacked cells between S and R. In S interaction, IH rapidly widespread into the leaf cells (300-600兪m in length and 20-40兪m in depth at 48 hpi, 600-900兪m in length and 40-56兪m in depth at 72 hpi) and most of the infected cells were filled with IH. In R interaction, the growth of IH was limited in the attacked cells or adjacent cells, and the cells were browned, granulated and clearly auto-fluorescenced. But still in R interaction on cv. 9-W, bulbous IH spread in the cells, although the growth of IH was slower (100-300兪m) and limited.