Rapid defense gene expression in both resistant and susceptible rice cultivars by elicitor(s) originating from conidia of blast fungus—Basal resistance response before fungal penetration into host cells

Expression of defense-related genes was induced within 1 h after blast fungus inoculation in both resistant and susceptible rice plants, on which the conidia on the leaves have just germinated. Treatment of rice cells with water-soluble and heat-sensitive molecule(s) released from the conidia induced rapid defense gene expression, but not the rapid cytoplasmic pH decrease, which was reportedly induced by elicitors originating from blast fungus mycelium. These results suggest that, before penetration into plant cells, a rapid defensive response to blast fungus has been triggered by conidia-originating elicitor(s) in both resistant and susceptible rice plants.