Abstract:
Brown Planthopper, BPH (Nilaparvata lugens St˚al) is one of the most devastating insect
pests reported on the rice crop worldwide. The traditional Sri Lankan rice variety Rathu
Heenati has been found to have strong BPH resistance and is widely used as a BPHresistant
donor in rice breeding programs in several countries. The current study was
conducted to identify BPH resistance in Rathu Heenati accessions available in Sri Lanka
through phenotypic and molecular characterization at Rice Research and Development
Institute, Batalagoda during the 2021/22 Maha season. Phenotypic characterization for
BPH resistance was performed using the standard seedbox screening technique (SSST).
Rathu Heenati ’s accessions; 2080, 3888, 4992, 5579, 5486 and 3390 were tested for BPH
resistance with BPH resistant var. Ptb33 and susceptible var. Bg380. The molecular
markers; RM 589, RM 463, RG457 and AJ096 associated with the BPH resistance
genes BPH3, BPH2, BPH10, and BPH13 were used. The results revealed that Rathu
Heenati accessions 4992 and 5579 are moderately resistant to BPH. Accession 3390 is
moderately resistant/ susceptible to BPH while accessions 2080, 3888, and 5486 are
highly susceptible to BPH. The molecular analyzes showed the presence of resistance
genes BPH3, BPH2, BPH10, and BPH13 in accessions 4992 and 5579; BPH2 and BPH3
in accession 3390. Therefore, these resistant genes might play an important role in
determining some resistance of Rathu Heenati accessions to BPH. Hence Rathu Heenati
accessions, especially 4992 and 5579, may be used effectively to develop BPH resistant
varieties in rice breeding programs.
