1Moutain Crop Research Station, Sagam, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir-192 102, Jammu and Kashmir (India)
2Division of Plant Biotechnology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir-192 102, Jammu and Kashmir (India)
3Mountain Research Centre for Field Crops, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir-192 102, Jammu and Kashmir (India)
*E-mail: asifshikari@skuastkashmir.ac.in
Online published on 14 August, 2019.
Rice blast is one of the most devastating diseases of rice at global level and temperate region like Kashmir is one of the hot spots for the disease. On an estimate the global grain losses reach the cumulative worth of over $70 billion. The deployment of R-genes in rice varieties has been a choice to combat scourge of blast in farmers’ fields. The objective of this review is to provide an insight about the distribution and architecture of R-genes underlying resistance to rice blast. Currently, around 347 QTLs and 102 genes have been reported for blast resistance of which 27 have been cloned. These resistance genes can be introgressed into susceptible varieties through marker-assisted backcrossing. Considering the importance of blast disease, various management approaches have been practiced to control this disease; however, the use of resistant varieties is the most preferred option to control the disease. Marker-based strategies to incorporate genetic resistance have proven to be quite successful in development of disease resistant varieties. This review provides useful information about the epidemiology of the pathogen, architecture of R-genes underlying resistance to rice blast and their effective utilization through MAS. An attempt to summarise important parameters to decide on the choice of appropriate donors for use in breeding for blast resistance in rice has been made in this review.
Architecture, gene, pathogen, rice blast
