Abstract: Brown planthopper (BPH),
Nilaparvata lugens (Stal) is a destructive pest that poses a threat to the food security of rice producing countries. Finding highly resistant germplasm sources is essential to breeding rice varieties resistant to the BPH. The experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Station (ARS), Gangavati during
kharif 2021 with 78 traditional rice varieties and six popular local varieties with one susceptible check TN1. The results of field screening of traditional rice varieties against brown planthopper revealed that about 8 genotypes
viz., Jeerige samba, Ratana Sagar, Ambe Mohar, Hasada, Karapu Kavalu, Nambari, Kusum kali-1 and Odissa -1 showed resistance to brown planthopper, 17 traditional rice varieties were showed moderate resistance, 27 rice varieties exhibited moderate susceptible, around 13 varieties were susceptible and 20 varieties showed highly susceptible reaction to brown planthopper. The BPH resistance genes in promising genotypes were molecularly characterized.
Results showed that Kempu battha, Nari kela, Burma black selection 2, and Mukanna ratna chudi specified positive bands for each of the six primers. Five primers yielded positive bands for Jaldi dhani-1, Bagiri jhulli, Bhajana, Ambe mohar, Hasada, Karapu kavalu, Nambari, Kusum kali-1, and Odissa -1. Mashuri, GNV-1089, Jeerige Sanna, and Kaagi Saale all produced positive bands for four primers. For three primers, Bangara sanna, MTU-1010, Malgudi sanna, and Jasmine black produced positive bands. Each of the three sambas—Jeerige, Ratana, and Andanoor—has two R genes. Only one primer for TN-1 exhibited amplifications. Both phenotypic and molecular studies revealed that Kempu battha, Nari kela, Burma black selection 2, and Mukanna ratna chudi these genotypes were found resistant to BPH. Additionally, by using MAS, these genotypes can be used in crop development or breeding programs to create novel cultivars that are resistant to BPH.
