Resistance genes and gene pyramids controlling rice blast pathogen populations in eight African countries

Abstract Background The behavior of rice varieties under natural environments in fields often differs from the expected one. For developing varieties, breeders give then a particular importance to multi-local field screening to confirm the resistance of their germplasm. We assembled 81 accessions e.g. blast differential, traditional and improved varieties and tested them for resistance to blast ( Pyricularia grisea ) in eight African hot spots under different ecologies. We thus expected to identify accessions and genes or gene pyramids that provide durable resistance locally or across sites. Methods 81 accessions (e.g. blast differential, traditional and improved varieties were tested in hot spots in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Madagascar, Mali, Rwanda, Togo and Uganda for resistance to leaf and neck blast. An Alpha design (randomized incomplete block) with four replications was used. Correlation between leaf blast and neck blast severity and between incidence and severity were analyzed. Results: From 2013 to 2016, multi-local screening tests were conducted at yje selected sites. Among the 81 rice accessions tested, seven accessions were consistently susceptible while 12 were resistant across locations and seasons. Interestingly, effective individual resistance genes (R genes) or gene pyramids efficient across the sites were identified. In addition, we noticed on some sites, changes in the responses of some rice accessions to the disease from one season to the other. Responses of some accessions also showed great variations from one site to another. In addition, several accessions sharing the same resistance genes exhibited different responses to blast. Regarding the neck blast, only fewer accessions could be assessed as very susceptible ones died at early stages. Although differential responses were observed in the four sites considered for the analysis, several accessions consistently resisted. In addition, results showed that leaf and neck blast resistances were correlated. Conclusions Results obtained provide useful information on the tested germplasm resistance. In addition, it was possible to identify resistant accessions and sometimes the R genes associated which were effective locally or across sites. Results also showed shifts in pathogenicity of the pathogen populations over seasons and sites. Finally, breeders can now use this valuable information for sustainable blast resistance breeding.