Early molecular events in the interaction between Magnaporthe oryzae and rice

Rice is a staple crop feeding more than 50% of the world's population and, its sustainable production is crucial to the global food security. However, blast disease caused by the filamentous fungus Magnaporthe oryzae (anamorph: Pyricularia oryzae) threatens sustainable rice production as it can reduce grain yields over 30% in epidemic years. Therefore, deciphering the molecular mechanisms of the M. oryzae-rice interaction and the mechanism that how M. oryzae overcomes rice defense is crucial for developing new strategies to make green fungicides and disease-resistant rice varieties. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms by which M. oryzae perceives host surface signals and subsequently develops specific infection structure called appressoria. In addition, the review delves into the strategies that the fungus utilizes to overcome host immunity, which in turn allows it to colonize rice tissues. Finally, we propose the perspectives for dissecting the pathogenesis of the fungus and controlling rice blast disease.