Evaluation of Rice Lines for Resistance to Blast in Seedbed

Identification of blast resistance sources in rice and their proper deployment are necessary for blast management. In this study, 240 rice-breeding lines were evaluated for blast resistance under natural field conditions at Rampur, Chitwan during rainy season of 2000. The experiment comprised of lines from different yield trials (subtropical, warm temperate and temperate trial sets) with different genetic backgrounds. Of the 240 rice lines, 131 were resistant, 54 moderately resistant, 12 moderately susceptible and 17 susceptible. The frequency of resistant lines increased with the advancement of lines from initial evaluation trials to farmer's field trials. This indicates that blast resistant is one of the criterion for promoting rice lines. Keywords: Pyricularia grisea, Oryza sativa , genotypes J. Inst. Agric. Anim. Sci. 25:65-70 2004