Introgression of the rice blast resistance genes Pi1, Pi2 and Pi33 into Russian rice varieties by marker-assisted selection

Marker-assisted selection (MAS) was adopted for introgression of broad-spectrum blast resistance genes Pi1, Pi2 and Pi33 into elite Russian rice varieties. It was shown that microsatellite markers RM 224, RM 527 and RM 310 may be effectively used to transfer Pi1, Pi2 and Pi33 genes into selected Russian genotypes of rice. Based on the highly productive variety Kuboyar, we obtained the lines, 200–5668 (Pi 1+2+33 IL14 × Kuboyar), 207–5671 (Pi 1+2+33 IL28 × Kuboyar) and 208–5674 (Pi 1+2+33 IL28 × Kuboyar) carrying three pyramided genes Pi1, Pi2 and Pi33 in homozygous state. The lines 200–5668, 207–5671 and 208–5674 are used as an improved resistance donor source to obtain hybrids and pyramiding additional Pi genes in order to provide stable long-term resistance for rice blast disease.