ARS | Publication request: Field evaluation of rice varieties for resistance to major diseases

Submitted to: Agricultural Experiment Station Publication
Publication Type: Experiment Station
Publication Acceptance Date: June 1, 2011
Publication Date: June 15, 2011
Citation: Zhou, X., Tabien, R.E., McClung, A.M. 2011. Field evaluation of rice varieties for resistance to major diseases. Texas Rice Special Section, Highlighting Research in 2011. p. XXVIII-XXIX.

Technical Abstract: The development and use of improved disease resistant rice varieties remains of foremost importance to rice producers, with field evaluation under local environments essential. In this study, we evaluated new and existing varieties, potential releases, and Texas elite breeding lines for resistance to sheath blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani, bacterial panicle blight caused by Burkholderia glumae or B. gladioli, and narrow brown leaf spot caused by Cercospora janseana. More than 48 varieties and elite lines were evaluated in five trials at Beaumont and Eagle Lake in Texas during 2009 and 2010. The Beaumont test site has a clay soil and high humidity, while Eagle Lake has sandy soil and a less humid environment. Sheath blight was introduced into field plots by inoculation. Narrow brown leaf spot developed from natural infection. Bacterial panicle blight developed from either natural infection or bacterial inoculum sprayed on panicles at heading stage. All but a few varieties and lines were susceptible or very susceptible to sheath blight with disease severity ratings of 5 or above on a 0 to 9 scale. CL142-AR, Jasmine 85, Milagro Filipino, Templeton, Rondo, and the hybrid XL723 showed partial resistance to sheath blight. All varieties and lines were susceptible to bacterial panicle blight, except for Catahoula, Jupiter, Spring, XL723, and the two TX elite lines RU0703190 and RU0703144 which showed partial resistance. All of the varieties, except for CL181-AR, Jazzman, Sabine, and Sierra, were resistant or moderately resistant to narrow brown leaf spot.