Pathogenesis: Gray leaf spot

Pyricularia grisea, also known as Magnaporthe grisea causes gray leaf spot on turfgrasses and rice blast in rice. M. grisea is used as a model plant pathogen in many studies including a cleaver study describing the forces produced by the fungus to penetrate the leaf surface. In a classic study, the fungus was grown on mylar membranes of different surface hardness to help determine the force needed to penetrate the membrane. The mylar membrane is not sensitive to fungal enzymes…