Genetic Analysis of the Relationship between the Browning Reaction and Bacterial Blight Resistance Gene Xa3 in Rice

The relationship between bacterial blight resistance gene Xa3 and browning reaction was genetically analyzed using F₂ plants from the cross of rice cultivar Kuntulan with Kinmaze. Kuntulan harbors resistance Xa3 and developes a browning reaction to avirulent races of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, whereas Kinmaze has a typical susceptible reaction to all known Japanese races of X. o. pv. oryzae. The F₂ plants were tested for their resistance to avirulent race II strain of X. o. pv. oryzae and the development of browning. Of 337 F₂ plants tested, 251 had resistance to the strain. In all the resistant plants, a browning reaction developed around the point of inoculation. The remaining 86 had a susceptible reaction to the strain without a browning reaction. The F₂ population of Kuntulan × Kinmaze had a clear-cut segregation ratio of 3R : 1S. These facts led to the conclusion that the browning reaction is a pleiotropic effect of Xa3. Received 29 January 2001/ Accepted in revised form 24 April 2001