Marker Assisted Selection for Leaf Blast Disease resistance and other yield traits in rice (Oryza sativa L.) using RAPD Markers

A segregating population of 220 F₂ individuals was developed by raising the selfed F₁ seeds of a single hybrid plant, White Ponni x Moroberekan. Two hundred and twenty F₃ families were phenotyped for blast resistance under artificial condition. Bulk-segregant analysis resulted in the identification of 12 leaf blast resistant phenotype specific RAPD markers. Mapping survey was done with seven RAPD primers which co-segregated in BSA. Twelve RAPD markers were scored in the F₂ mapping population. Out of 12 marker loci, 11 marker loci (91.97 per cent) fitted into the expected segregation ratio of 3:1 based on x²_- test at 0.05 per cent probability value. One way ANOVA was performed to identify the marker phenotype association and this resulted in the identification of seven RAPD markers linked to three traits viz., leaf blast resistance (OPBB 5₂₅₈ OPBB 5₁₉₄, OPAL 16₉₄₀ and OPBD 12₆₈₀), five markers for GPT and one marker for grain yield per plant.