Observation of local rice varieties resistance to blast disease (Pyricularia grisea) in the greenhouse

Abstract

A Nasution, Usyati N. 2015. Observations of local rice variety resistance to blast disease (Pyricularia grisea) in the greenhouse. Pros Sem Nas Masy Biodiv Indon 1 (1): 19-22. Indonesia is one country wealth of genetic diversity. Germplasm is genetic resources belongs to a particular species. Germplasm potential development is still necessary. For the development, basic information contained in the germplasm needs to be explored, as such, we will be able to filter genotypes that give positive responses to both biotic and abiotic stress. Blast disease (Pyricularia grisea) is generally a major problem on upland rice farm because it hampers rice productivity. Blast disease can infect any part of the rice plant, from seedbed, vegetative stage, to generative stage, by infesting the neck and panicle branches. With favoring environmental conditions, the disease can cause crop failure or puso on susceptible varieties. Use of resistant varieties is the most practical and economical to control of blast disease. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the resistance of local varieties to 4 races of leaf blast disease. The experiment was conducted in 2014 in the greenhouse of Muara experiment station. A total of 61 local varieties were tested for the disease susceptibility with variety Kencana Bali as the control. The results showed that local varieties tested showed various resistance, indicating varying responses to leaf blast disease.