Marker-aided selection and validation of various Pi gene combinations for rice blast resistance in elite rice variety ADT 43.

Rice blast caused by fungal pathogen Pyricularia oryzae has a major impact on reducing yield potential of rice. In this study, homozygous plants were selected using microsatellite markers from the BC3F2 population pyramided with four major genes in elite rice variety ADT 43. Background and selected lines with various blast resistance gene combinations were screened under natural conditions to study the effects of various gene combinations. Upon inspection of lines with different gene combinations, the three-gene pyramided line Pi54+Pi33+Pi1 was found to be highly resistant with the score of 3.3 followed by other three-gene pyramided lines Pi54+Pi2+Pi1 and Pi33+Pi2+Pi1, with the scores of 3.9 and 3.8, respectively. Two-gene pyramided lines Pi54+Pi1, Pi33+Pi1 and Pi2+Pi1 were found to be moderately resistant with a mean score of 4.0 each. In the case of monogenic lines, positive plants for Pi54 performed almost equal to three-gene pyramided lines with a mean score of 3.6. Lines with Pi and Pi1 were found to be moderately resistant and moderately susceptible with the mean scores of 4.1 and 4.5, respectively.

EcoTILLING by sequencing reveals polymorphisms in genes encoding starch synthases that are associated with low glycemic response in rice.

BACKGROUND: Glycemic response, a trait that is tedious to be assayed in cereal staples, has been identified as a factor correlated with alarmingly increasing prevalence of Type II diabetes. Reverse genetics based discovery of allelic variants associated with this nutritional trait gains significance as they can provide scope for genetic improvement of this factor which is otherwise difficult to target through routine screening methods. RESULTS: Through EcoTILLING by sequencing in 512 rice accessions, we report the discovery of six deleterious variants in the genes with potential to increase Resistant Starch (RS) and reduce Hydrolysis Index (HI) of starch. By deconvolution of the variant harbouring EcoTILLING DNA pools, we discovered accessions with a minimum of one to a maximum of three deleterious allelic variants in the candidate genes. CONCLUSIONS: Through biochemical assays, we confirmed the potential role of the discovered alleles alone or in combinations in increasing RS the key factor for reduction in glycemic response.

Effectiveness of selection, parent-offspring correlation and regression in bacterial blight resistance genes introgressed rice segregating population / Efetividade da seleção, correlação pais-prole e regressão nos genes de resistência à ferrugem bacteriana introgressaram a população segregante de arroz

ABSTRACT: The effectiveness of early generation selection was practiced in bacterial blight resistance genes introgressed F2 and F2:3 population of the cross CB 174 R × IRBB 60 in rice. F2 Selection have been proved to be robust and effective tool in crop improvement program. Selection differential was positive for all studied traits. Selection response was high for number of grains, thus indicating the effectiveness of selection for these character. Realized heritability was found high for number of grains and thousand grain weight, suggested that direct selection was effective. Expected selection response and predicted genetic gain was high for number of grains. Parent-offspring correlation showed low but significance association for number of productive tillers (r=0.47**, P<0.01), single plant yield (r=0.35**, P<0.01) and (r=0.30*, P<0.05) panicle length in F2 and F2:3 generation indicates that selection was fruitful in early generation. Statistically regression coefficient was not significant linear dependence of the mean of F2 and F2:3 generation.

RESUMO: A eficácia da selecção das primeiras gerações foi praticada na população F2 e F2: 3 de CB 174 R × IRBB 60 do gene bacteriano. A seleção foi positiva para todos os caracteres estudados. A resposta de seleção foi alta para o número de grãos. A herdabilidade realizada foi encontrada alta para o número de grãos e mil grãos de peso, sugeriu que a seleção direta foi eficaz. A resposta à seleção esperada e o ganho genético previsto foi elevado para o número de grãos. A correlação entre pais e filhos mostrou forte associação com o número de latifundiários produtivos (r = 0,47**, P<0,01), produção única de planta (r = 0,35**, P<0,01) e (r = 0,30*, P<0,05) Comprimento em F2 e F2:3 geração indica que a seleção foi frutífera. O coeficiente de regressão estatística não foi dependência linear significativa da média de F2 e F2:3 geração.

Analysis of Population Structure and Genetic Diversity in Rice Germplasm Using SSR Markers: An Initiative Towards Association Mapping of Agronomic Traits in Oryza Sativa.

BACKGROUND: Genetic diversity is the main source of variability in any crop improvement program. It serves as a reservoir for identifying superior alleles controlling key agronomic and quality traits through allele mining/association mapping. Association mapping based on LD (Linkage dis-equilibrium), non-random associations between causative loci and phenotype in natural population is highly useful in dissecting out genetic basis of complex traits. For any successful association mapping program, understanding the population structure and assessing the kinship relatedness is essential before making correlation between superior alleles and traits. The present study was aimed at evaluating the genetic variation and population structure in a collection of 192 rice germplasm lines including local landraces, improved varieties and exotic lines from diverse origin. RESULTS: A set of 192 diverse rice germplasm lines were genotyped using 61 genome wide SSR markers to assess the molecular genetic diversity and genetic relatedness. Genotyping of 192 rice lines using 61 SSRs produced a total of 205 alleles with the PIC value of 0.756. Population structure analysis using model based and distance based approaches revealed that the germplasm lines were grouped into two distinct subgroups. AMOVA analysis has explained that 14 % of variation was due to difference between with the remaining 86 % variation may be attributed by difference within groups. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these above analysis viz., population structure and genetic relatedness, a core collection of 150 rice germplasm lines were assembled as an association mapping panel for establishing marker trait associations.