Observation of Rice Panicle Blast by Fluorescent Labeling

Abstract

Rice panicles spontaneously infected with Pyricularia oryzae Cav. were stained with calcofluor white to impart fluorescence to fungal structures. The procedure facilitated observation of conidiophores and conidia formed on infected sites such as neck, rachis, panicle branch, pedicel and husk, and of invading hyphae in the cells of neck, rachis and panicle branch. It is also possible to observe conidia attached to the epidermis of neck, rachis, panicle branch, pedicel and husk.