In this study, we analyzed time-course expression levels of some defense-related genes, such as respiratory burst oxidase homologue B (OsRbohB), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase-like (OsPAL1), pathogenesis-related protein 1b (OsPR1-b), MAP kinase kinase 2 (OsMEK2), mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (OsMPK1) and NADP-malic enzyme (OsNADP-ME2-3) in the leaf sheath tissues of rice HY and ΔOsfer2 mutants during avirulent M. oryzae INA168 infection (Figure 6). This evidence concerns the gene MAP4K1 and infection.