Evaluation of Rice Genotypes for the Agronomic Performance and Resistance against Magnaporthe oryzae

Abstract

Rice blast caused by fungus Magnaporthe oryzae is one of the major fungal disease affecting rice (Oryza sativa) cultivation. Currently, the use of pesticides has proven to be successful in the control of this disease to a very large extent, but these results in increase in the cost of production and these chemicals are sometimes not eco-friendly. Therefore, the deployment of blast-resistant cultivars is the most important method of combating the disease because it is considered as a no cost technology especially to the poor farmers. Therefore, this study was carried out to evaluaterice genotypes for resistance to natural population of blast pathogens and there agronomic performance. Fifteen NCRI advance rice breeding lines and two released (BR1-17) varieties (checks) were collected from the breeding unit of the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, Nigeria. These genotypes were screened for resistance to blast disease caused by Magnaporthe oryzae in the blast hot spot and water stress environment. The results on agronomic performance reveal different reactions. Genotype BR3 was highly resistant and has the least disease incidence of 28%. BR2 is moderately resistant and also gave the highest grain yield 6tons per hecter. The blast incidence and severity did not affect the agronomic performance of the rice genotypes as most of the genotypes yield above the average grain yield of 3tons/hectare. BR3 may therefore be utilized by incorporating it into the breeding programme strategy to control blast disease of Magnaporthe oryzae