Identification of blast resistant rice (oryza sativa l.) genotypes in indigenous and exotic germplasm and validation of pi gene linked molecular markers

Abstract

Rice Blast, a most devastating disease of Rice caused by Magnaporthe grisea can be effectively managed by use of resistant rice genotypes. Availability of resistant donors and validated molecular markers are essential to develop resistant cultivars against different races and to pyramid the resistant genes, In the present investigation, 312 indigenous and 65 exotic germplasm lines were evaluated against blast resistance at RARS, Jagtial. More percentage (83%) of exotic germplasm showed resistance to rice blast disease compared to indigenous germplasm (46%). Three genotypes (JGL23710, JGL23713 and JGL23714) in indigenous germplasm and two genotypes (IR09N500 and IR12M101) in exotic germplasm were immune to rice blast disease. "These can be used as donor genetic stock for development of highly resistant rice cultivars with high yields". Among five linked markers studied for Pi-1 gene, one marker RM6094 was able to identify resistant genotypes at allelic level and for Pi-2 gene, RM527 was validated in four genotypes out of six genotypes used. This information will help rice breeders to improve the resistance to rice blast by marker assisted selection.

Keywords

• rice
• blast resistant germplasm
• marker validation
• marker assisted selection.