Novel blast resistance genes for durable rice varieties
Developing rice varieties with novel blast resistance genes to enhance durability without compromising yield. Focused on isolating unknown alleles and validating their efficacy for high-yielding, resistant rice lines.
Overview
Rice blast, caused by Magnaporthe oryzae, is a significant threat to global food security, exacerbated by climate change and pathogen evolution. This research aims to identify and isolate novel rice blast resistance genes and their allelic variants. By integrating these genes into high-yielding rice varieties, the project seeks to develop durable, blast-resistant rice lines that maintain yield and quality.
Technical specifications
- Isolation and identification of novel blast resistance genes and allelic variants
- Use of Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) and Biparental Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) mapping to capture common and rare alleles
- Introgression of effective alleles into high-yielding rice varieties
- Development of bioinformatics capabilities for sequence data analysis and haplotype identification
Technology readiness level
The project is currently at Technology Readiness Level 2, focusing on identifying and isolating potential genes and alleles to enhance rice blast resistance.
About Bangladesh Rice Research Institute
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute is a national government research organization headquartered in Gazipur that serves as the country’s lead center for rice innovation and evaluation, with multiple regional stations. For industry, BRRI provides access to co‑located laboratories and experimental farms, a multi‑location trial network spanning Bangladesh’s agro‑ecological zones, and phenotyping, quality, and post‑harvest testing. Coordination with extension services and the national seed and milling value chain enables rapid on‑farm validation and scale‑up with public and private partners. Research is financed by Government of Bangladesh appropriations and complemented by competitive funding from international donors and multilateral programs; a formal variety‑release pathway and breeder‑seed production support downstream multiplication and commercialization.
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