1Department of Rice, Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641003, Tamil Nadu
2Department of Plant Pathology, Centre for Plant Protection Studies, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641003, Tamil Nadu
3Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of South Campus, New Delhi-110021, India.
Plant viruses in particular Tungro viruses together with their insect vector Green Leaf Hoppers cause considerable losses in rice production in south India. Recent surveys in Tamil Nadu conducted during December – January of 2005–06 and 2006–07 at Pechiparai, Perunchani (Kanyakumari district) and Thamiraparani (Tirunelveli district) deltaic areas of Peninsular India revealed the presence of Rice tungro bacilliform virus (amplified by using specific primers which yielded approximately 1000 bp). Among the thirteen samples analyzed, nine samples were confirmed to be infected with RTD specifically with RTBV virus. Transmission of the virus through Green leaf hopper was also confirmed. The results revealed the prevalence of Rice Tungro Viruses (RTV) in Pechiparai Perunjani and Thamiraparani deltaic areas of Tamil Nadu. Identification of this disease in the early stage is difficult and the management is a daunting task. If the disease is identified early in the field, the loss which it causes can be reduced substantially. We report here the technique for detection of this virus. Attempts were made to cross the transgene from Basumati to local varieties. The T2 plants of PB-1 with RTBV-O-ds2 trangene was screened with marker gene specific primers. The positive plants were tagged and used for hybrization. The F1’s of the crosses PB-1 (RTBV-O-ds2) X ASD16; PB-1 (RTBV-O-ds2) X CR1009; PB-1 (RTBV-O-ds2) X BPT 5204 were effected and the F1 seeds were harvested and further studies are in progress.
