Rice Breeding and Pathology Technical Support.

Disease resistance in rice is one of many goals rice breeders and pathologists work on at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture's Rice Research and Extension Center (RREC) near Stuttgart, Arkansas. The breeding and pathology support group evaluates preliminary and advanced breeding lines against major diseases of economic importance in both the greenhouse and field. At RREC, preliminary and advanced breeding materials are evaluated using artificial inoculation for sheath blight in the field and blast diseases in the greenhouse. Advanced breeding materials are tested in the field for blast resistance with artificial inoculation at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture's Pine Tree Research Station (PTRS) near Colt, Arkansas. Large amounts of disease inocula are prepared in the laboratory and applied to rice plants following specific protocols. The rice breeders utilize these data to make selections. The breeding program advanced yield plots are also evaluated in the field for diseases including the rice blast, sheath blight, bacterial panicle blight, kernel smut and false smut. Selected lines are used either to transfer genes for resistance into adapted and high yielding varieties or to advance entries for further agronomic testing. The evaluation of preliminary breeding materials helps breeders eliminate extremely susceptible materials, thus saving time and resources. The breeding and pathology technical support group is fully involved in extension plant pathology programs with applied research on bacterial panicle blight, including collaborative interdepartmental, industry, and multi-state research endeavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]