Phenotypic Screening of Advanced Breeding Lines for Blast Resistance in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Rice is predominantly grown in Asia, which accounts for about 90% of global production. Rice crop is affected by both biotic and abiotic stresses, biotic stresses such as blast, bacterial blight which significantly reduces the yields. Present study was conducted to introgress the blast gene Pi54 into the genetic background of the rice variety Telangana Sona (RNR 15048) through marker assisted pedigree breeding. A cross was made between Telangana Sona (RNR 15048) and near isogenic line of Cottondora Sannalu (MTU1010NIL). A set of 40 advanced breeding lines (F5) were screened phenotypically for blast resistance in uniform blast nursery (UBN) during Rabi 2023-24 at RARS, Polasa, Jagtial. Among the 40 breeding lines screened for blast, 12 breeding lines were shown resistant reaction with a disease score of 1, 18 breeding lines exhibited resistant reaction with a disease score of 3 and 10 breeding lines were exhibited moderate resistant reaction with disease score of 5. These thirty breeding lines exhibited resistance reaction to blast with durable resistance, could serve as good donors for blast and further forwarded to conduct multi location trials and further to release as new varieties through AICRP.