Biotrophic invasive hyphae (IH) of the blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae secrete effectors to alter host defenses and cellular
processes as they successively invade living rice (Oryza sativa) cells. However, few blast effectors have been identified.
Indeed, understanding fungal and rice genes contributing to biotrophic invasion has been difficult because so few plant
cells have encountered IH at the earliest infection stages.