Introgression of major bacterial blight and blast resistant genes into vallabh basmati 22, an elite basmati variety

Bacterial blight and blast are two major destructive diseases in rice, particularly in basmati growing areas. For sustainable basmati rice production, there is a need to identify new resistant sources and improve the elite Basmati varieties against the two diseases. Vallabh Basmati is an elite variety, long slender grain, medium duration and possessing excellent aroma and with consumer preferable cocking and eating qualities.  However, the variety is highly susceptible to BB and blast diseases, which limit its production to a significant extent. In the present study, three major resistant genes (i.e., Xa21 and xa13 for BB resistance and Pi54 for blast resistance) were intogressed into Vallab Basmati 22 through the strategy of marker-assisted breeding (MAB) using Improved Samba Mahsuri (possessing Xa21 + xa13) and Tetep (possessing Pi 54) as the donor parents through two sets of crosses. At each generation, plants possessing Xa21 and xa13 or Pi54 in heterozygous condition were identified from the two crosses with help of gene-specific markers through foreground selection. At each generation, plants possessing Xa21 + xa13 + Pi54 in homozygous condition were identified with the help of gene specific markers and advanced further through selfing. At ICF4¬, four promising three-gene pyramid lines of Vallabh Basmati22 possessing high level of resistance against both BB and blast along with high yield and grain type similar to the recurrent parent have been identified.