SCREENING OF RICE GENOTYPES AGAINST BLAST DISEASE (Pyricularia oryzae) UNDER DIRECT SEEDED RICE CONDITION AT GOKULESHWOR, BAITADI

Rice is the principal food crop of Nepal grown extensively under a wide range of agro-ecological conditions. However, rice production is not satisfactory due to a variety of biotic and abiotic factors, of which Rice blast (Pyricularia oryzae) is among the most important biotic factors responsible for yield losses in rice growing areas of Nepal.  The experiment was conducted at Gokuleshwor, Baitadi, Nepal during July to November 2019 to screen rice genotypes against leaf blast disease under disease conducive upland nursery conditions. A total of 10 rice genotypes were tested in one factorial randomized complete block design with three replications. Diseases were scored beginning on the 39th day of sowing using disease rating scale of 0-9. In the test of 10 rice genotypes, 6 genotypes viz. Sabitri, Saga 4, INH12023, DR-11, Hardinath 3 and INH13140 were found resistant. Similarly, Chaite-5, INH14120 and INH14172 were moderately resistant. Similarly, Shankharika was highly susceptible to rice blast. This study can provide valuable information for rice leaf blast disease management, as well as how to utilize these resistant and moderately resistant genotypes in further resistance breeding.