Tandem affinity purification (TAP)‐tagged MAP1 strain possesses characteristics similar to those of the wild‐type. (A) Morphological comparison of the wild‐type and TAP‐tagged MAP1 complemented strains. Left panel: both strains were cultured in complete agar medium (CM) under standard incubation conditions (25 °C) for 7 days. Representative colonies are shown photographed at 7 days post‐inoculation. Scale bar, 10 mm. Right panel: conidia were harvested from 14‐day‐old oatmeal agar cultures, and conidia from both strains were observed under a light microscope. Scale bar, 10 μm. (B) MAP1 protein levels. Western blot analysis with total proteins extracted from the wild‐type strain, MAP1 deletion mutant strain (ΔMAP1) and TAP‐tagged MAP1 complemented strain. MAP1 was detected with an anti‐MAP1 antibody, and the presence of Porin (Por1) was detected as an internal control using an anti‐Por1 antibody. (C) Pathogenicity assay with the wild‐type strain, MAP1 deletion mutant strain (ΔMAP1) and TAP‐tagged MAP1 complemented strain (TAP‐MAP1). Rice disease symptoms were assessed after 7 days.