Evaluation of Rice Germplasm against Bacterial Leaf Streak Disease Reveals Sources of Resistance in African Varieties

Abstract

Bacterial leaf streak caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xoc) is a rice disease emerging in West Africa. Its emergence is correlated with the recent expansion of rice cultivation and the introduction of new rice varieties. Our goal is to identify resistance sources to control BLS in rice. We evaluated six Oryza sativa and two Oryza glaberrima accessions for resistance to bacterial leaf streak under greenhouse conditions. Three week-old plants were inoculated with different Xoc strains originated from Mali and the Philippines. Two Oryza sativa accessions (FKR14 and ITA306) show a high level of resistance to African Xoc while are susceptible to the Philippines one. The others accessions tested are susceptible to all Xoc strains tested. We identify new resistance sources to X. oryzae pv. oryzicola that could be used by breeders, thus improving yield of rice crops in West Africa.