Reaction of rice protoplasts to conidia and to mycelial components prepared from Pyricularia oryzae Cav.

Reactions of rice protoplasts to conidia and to mycelial components of blast fungus strains were investigated. Conidia germinated and the hyphae extended to form colonies without contact with protoplasts. Cell wall-rich components fractionated from cultured mycelia exerted a injurious effects on the protoplasts. The reaction was similar to that observed in the early stage of the infection of the inner epidermal cells of the leaf sheath.