Development of japonica Rice Lines with Four Bacterial Blight Resistance Genes using Phenotypic and Marker-assisted Selection
Four bacterial blight resistance genes, Xa1+Xa3+xa5+Xa21, pyramid elite japonica rice lines were developed for enhancing the resistance of rice against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae in Korea. Seven doubled haploid (RDL1-7) and ten F6 lines (RPL1-10) having Xa1+Xa3+xa5+Xa21 which were derived from the cross between Ilmi, high grain quality japonica rice cultivar carrying Xa1, and Iksan575, elite line carrying Xa3+xa5+Xa21, were developed using marker-assisted selection for resistance genes and phenotypic selection for bacterial blight resistance and agronomic traits. Among resistance genes combinations in F2 population, four resistance genes combination, Xa1+Xa3+xa5+Xa21, showed the highest resistance and conferred the enhanced resistance than three genes combination, Xa3+xa5+Xa21. Four genes pyramid lines (RDL and RPL) showed broad-spectrum resistant against 16 Korean bacterial blight isolates and the yield and quality of the lines did not alter by the inoculation of K3a, the most virulent race in Korea. In addition, these lines had excellent plant type and exhibited more enhanced yield than previously developed resistant cultivars. Four bacterial blight resistance genes combination, Xa1+Xa3+xa5+Xa21, was efficient and promising combination and developed lines with four genes could be useful materials and will be applied to the breeding programs for enhancing the resistance of japonica rice against bacterial blight.