Genetics of Resistance to Four Races of Xanthomonas campestris pv. oryzae in Some Rice Cultivars

Inheritance of resistance to four Philippine races of bacterial Might caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. oryzae was investigated in four cultivars of rice, Oryza sativa L. Resistance to three races in ‘Benamuri’ and ‘Aus 192’ is governed by xa-5. In ‘Tepal Boro’ and ‘Bazail 975′, resistance to races 1, 2. and 3 is conferred by xa-5, but another recessive gene confers resistance to race 4. This recessive gene is closely linked to xa-5 and may be allelic to xa-13. Rice cultivars with xa-13 are resistant to prevalent races of bacteria] blight in the Indian subcontinent and should thus prove useful as donors for resistance to bacterial blight in rice breeding programs.