Molecular Breeding for multi-trait

improvement in Rice
Raman Meenakshi Sundaram
Principal Scientist (Biotechnology)
Crop Improvement Section
ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research
(ICAR-IIRR)
Hyderabad 500 030, India
Email: rms_28@rediffmail.com

Outline of the presentation

Focus area at ICAR-IIRR:

Marker-assisted gene tagging and mapping and Molecular

breeding for durable biotic stress resistance

MAS applications: Hybrid rice breeding, Grain quality

Molecular Breeding for low P tolerance

Genomic and bioinformatic tools for rice improvement

Collaborative work with IRRI (Dr. KK Jena):

Novel genes/sources of biotic stress resistance

Yield improvement through marker-assisted introgression of

yield enhancing genes

Area of research and their impacts

Marker-assisted gene tagging and mapping and Molecular
breeding for durable biotic stress resistance

Bacterial blight (BB): A major production constraint

Caused by
Xanthomonas
oryzae pv. oryzae
(Xoo).

BB hotspots!!

Severely affected Indian States

10-30% damage
(irrigated and
lowland ecologies)
Management of the
disease: Resistance
breeding
~ 40 R genes
Single R gene
containing varieties:
Susceptible

Punjab
Uttar Pradesh
Chattisgarh
Orissa
Andhra Pradesh
Karnataka
Tamilnadu
Kerala
Assam
Tripura

Xoo

Infected
field

At least 22
pathotypes of the
pathogen

For durable resistance: Gene pyramiding is the way forward

Marker-assisted introgression of Xa21, xa13 & xa5 into the genetic

background of Samba Mahsuri
(A DRR-CCMB Collaboration)
Donor
SS1113 (with Xa21, xa5 & xa13)

Recipient(s)
Samba Mahsuri

Linked markers (used for foreground

selection)
Xa21 - pTA 248 (ALP marker)- 0.1 cM Chr. 11L
xa13 - RG136 (CAPS marker)- 2.0 cM Chr. 8L
xa5

- RG556 (CAPS marker)- 0.1 cM Chr. 5S

Background selection done using

parental polymorphic SSR markers
~ 90 markers used

Backcrossing till: BC4

Funding: NATP-ICAR

Improved Samba Mahsuri

A bacterial blight resistant NIL of
Samba Mahsuri, i.e. IET19045
developed through the programme was
released as Improved Samba Mahsuri
(ISM) by CVRC
ISM, now registered with PPV & FRA
A success story of MAS in India
ISM doing very well in farmers field.
More than 4000 tonnes of seed sold by
DRR since 2008 (~ 90,000 ha)
ISM licensed to two Pvt, seed
companies for for Rs14 lakhs.
Excellent example of Inter-Institutional
collaboration (IIRR-CCMB).
CSIR Blight out project for
popularization of ISM covering ~ 10000
Samba Mahsuri farmers in AP, TN,
Karnataka etc.
Awards received: CAIRD 2013,
DBT PPC Award 2015

Improved Samba Mahsuri is highly resistant to bacterial blight.

Similar grain and cooking qualities..

Improved Samba Mahsuri

fetches same market price like
Samba Mahsuri (Rs. 1200-1400
per quintal)..

Sundaram et al. 2008, Euphytica, 160: 411-422

Improved Samba Mahsuri (ISM): What next?

Improved Samba Mahsuri

BB R: Xa21, xa13, xa5

Xa33, Xa38

Blast R line of ISM

ISM

ISM

ISM + Pup1

ISM

Swarna
(Pup1)

ISM + Pup1

Bacterial blight and blast resistant lines of Samba Mahsuri

Introgression lines

Bacterial blight and blast resistant lines of

Samba Mahsuri with high yield
ISM

DP1

DP2

IL1

IL2

IL3

Development of Bacterial blight resistant Triguna

Triguna (GM, BPH and WBPH resistant)

Chaturguna (GM, BPH, WBPH and BB resistant)
lines under AICRIP evaluation

A multiplex marker system for simultaneous detection of

Xa21, xa13 and xa5

Amplification pattern of the PCR based multiplex marker system for simultaneous
detection of Xa21, xa13 and xa5 in a set of rice genotypes: The multiplex marker system
can clearly distinguish plants possessing Xa21, xa13 and xa5 from those which do not
possess the gene and also those which possess the gene in heterozygous condition. L
50-bp ladder separated on agarose gel to correlate the amplicon size,
1-IRBB21 (possessing only Xa21), 2 IRBB5 (possessing only xa5), 3 IRBB13
(possessing only xa13), 4 Improved Samba Mahsuri (possessing Xa21, xa13 and xa5), 5
SS1113 (possessing Xa21, xa13 and xa5), 6 F1 plant of the cross Improved Samba
Mahsuri/Vandana (heterozygous for all the three genes), 7- IR64, 8- TN1 and 9 Samba
Mahsuri (7, 8 and 9 are the samples which are devoid of the resistant allele of all the three
genes). J

Hajira et al. 2016 Rice Science 23: 144-151

Yugandar and Laha et al. 2016..

Grouping of 400 Indian Xoo isolates into 22 Pathotypes

Durable bacterial blight resistance..

A new bacterial blight resistance gene, Xa33 has been transferred from
Oryza nivara (Acc. IRGC105710) and introgressed into Samba Mahsuri

Samba Mahsuri with Xa33 possessing bacterial blight

resistance, high yield and good grain type

A new R gene introgressed from O. rufipogon

Ref: Sujatha et al. (2008) Rice Genetics Newsletter 25: 52-53

A recessive resistance gene from Ajaya mapped on Chr. 8

(~ 12 cM away from xa13)
Chr. 8

Ajaya has xa5 and xaAj2, which control BB resistance

xaAj2 explained ~ 30% of PV for resistance .

Improved Samba Mahsuri with Xa33

Introgression of a major BB resistance gene, Xa21 and

fine-grain quality into the genetic background
of the major restorer line KMR-3R
Improved Samba Mahsuri X KMR-3R
F1 X KMR-3R
BC1F1
BC1F2
BC1F3

MAS using a linked SSR marker

pTA248 (Xa21) , RM6100 (Rf4)
and RM10313 (Rf3)

BC1F4
BC1F5

Selection criteria: Fine-grain type + Xa21 + Rf4 + Rf3 and tall plant stature like KMR-3R
Hari et al. 2011, Plant Breeding 136: 608-616

High yielding restorer lines in the genetic background of

KMR3R possessing BB resistance and finer grain type
KMR-3R

High yield (> 6 tn/ha) exhibited by BK49-77

BK49

Excellent BB resistance exhibited by

BK49-77

(6 citations)

Introgression of a major BB (Xa21) and Blast (Pi54) resistance gene

into elite three line hybrid rice parental line, IR 58025B

Improved Samba Mahsuri X IR58025B

F1

TETEP X IR58025B

F1

F1 X IR58025B

Selection criteria: Short plant stature +

BB and blast resistance + absence of
fertility restoring allele for Rf4 & Rf3 +
absence of aroma (BADEX7-5 marker)
+ good grain type

BC1F1 X IR58025B
BC2F1

MAS using R gene

linked markers
pTA248 & RM206

BC2F2

Hari et al. 2013. Plant Breeding 132: 586594

Gene pyramid lines of IR 58025B possessing BB

and blast resistance
Blast resistant

BB resistant

No Awns

Finer grain type, less or no awns, complete maintenance ability, Intermediate amylose
content.
Hari et al. 2013. Plant Breeding 132: 586594

Molecular Breeding for durable biotic stress resistance in Rice

Target genes

Target Varieties

Present stage

Xa21, Xa33, Xa38

PiKh, Pi2
Gm4, Gm8
Bph18

Sampada, Akshayadhan
DRR-17B (B line), RPHR-1005
(R line)

Four-gene, five-gene pyramids developed.

Elite improved version of hybrids being developed.
Products presently under evaluation.

Funding support: DBT (ACIP)

(RP)

(A)

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(H)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

Phenotypic screening of improved lines of RPHR-1005 against rice blast disease

(RP) RPHR-1005 Recurrent parent (susceptible) , (A) C101A51- Donor parent (Resistant);
(H) HR-12 Susceptible check.
All the back cross derived lines
resistant to blast disease

IL-1 to IL-10 (RP-6-102-97-1 to RP-7-534-4-10)

were highly

(i) DX-020

(ii) DX-066

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)

(1) (2) (3)

(4)

(5) (6)

(7) (8)

Screening improved lines of RPHR-1005 against bacterial blight disease

Selected improved lines of RPHR-1005 (viz., (3) RP-6-154-164-3(DF/Y/E) , (4) RP-6-154-164-4 (Y/E),
(5) RP-6-208-12-5(Y/E), (6) RP-7-391-72-8 (HT/Y/E), (7) RP-7-534-4-9(E), (8) RP-7-534-4-10 (Y/E) were
screened for BB resistance with DRR (DX-020) & Raipur (DX-066) isolates along with (1) recurrent
parent (RPHR-1005), (2) donor parent (RPBio patho-1 (i) & FBR1-15(ii)).
The selected lines showed level of resistance against bacterial blight disease

Bacterial blight and blast resistant lines of MTU1010

MTU1010
BB resistance: Xa21 + xa13

Blast resistance: Pi54

Aruna Kumari et al. (2016) Rice Science (In press)

Molecular breeding for multiple biotic stress resistance

Blast resistance
10 novel resistance alleles of Pi54 and Pi2 along with
their native promoters isolated and characterized.
A new gene/QTL associated with resistance against
neck blast identified
Functional marker developed for Pi54
Pyramiding of Pi1, Pi2 and Pi54 in the genetic
background of Swarna and Imp. S. Mahsuri completed
Gall midge resistance
Fine mapped: Gm1, Gm2, gm3 and Gm8
The gene combinations Gm1 + Xa21, gm3 + Xa21 + xa13
and Gm4 + xa13 introgressed into Samba Mahsuri
BPH resistance
Identified a novel dominant resistance gene (BphR?) from
RP2068 (mapped on Chr. 1)

Development of a co-dominant functional marker for

the major blast resistance gene- Pi54 (Pikh)

Tagging and mapping of Gall midge resistance genes

Molecular studies: Tagging Gall midge resistance genes

Studies related to False smut of rice.

Screening protocol standardized

A few resistance/partial R sources

identified among landraces

Area of research and its impacts

MAS applications for hybrid rice

Accurate detection of offtypes.

Parent 2 (KMR-3R)

Hybrid (KRH2)

Marker (bp)
Parent 1 (IR58025A)

A DNA marker-based assay for detection of

impurities in hybrid seeds

Seed samples from a seed-lot of KRH2

500 bp

Off-type

Off-type

Off-type

Off-type

250 bp

(121 citations)

Development of a simple, cost effective matrix

based assay for rapid seed purity assessments

(62 citations)

A mitochondrial SSR marker (drrcms) based

assessment of genetic purity of WA-CMS lines
CMS purity testing IR58025A

*off-types

(27 citations)

(19 citations)

Pranathis marker for WA-CMS, Rf4 and Rf3, publications which have come
out of these papers

Identification of molecular markers specific for the major

fertility restorer genes, Rf3 and Rf4 and their validation

RM6100

(28 citations)

(17 citations)

Molecular mapping of wide-compatibility (WC)

gene loci S-5 and S-8 on Chr. 6 using SSR markers

(17 citations)

A functional marker for the major wide

compatibility gene locus S5

(12 citations)

Marker-based prediction of grain yield heterosis

A set of 10 key informative EST-SSR markers have been identified
(RMES2-1, RMES3-2, RMES5-1, RMES6-1, RMES8-1, RMES9-2,
RMES10-1, RM151, RM168 and RM169) highly useful for prediction of
grain yield heterosis.
These informative EST-SSR markers can be used for preliminary
sorting of parental lines in
order to identify heterotic cross
combinations
(6 citations)

Hybrid rice applications

(6 citations)

Area of research and its impacts

MAS applications for grain
and cooking quality improvement

BB resistant pyramided lines of Traditional Basmati

(8 citations)

IL021 IL02 IL04

IL05 T. Bas ISM

A functional marker for distinguishing aromatic

rice varieties from non-aromatic ones
200 bp

7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

100 bp

Lanes 1 to 13: Aromatic rice varieties; 14 to 26: Non-aromatic rice varieties

Lane M: Mol. Wt. marker (100 bp ladder)

The marker BADEX7-5 (targeting a 8-bp indel polymorphism in the major gene encoding
aroma in rice- badh2) can differentiate aromatic (95-bp) from non aromatic (103-bp) rice
varieties/genotypes based on difference in the size of the amplified fragment

(23 citations)

A functional marker targeting a major grain

length and shape QTL (Gs3) can distinguish
rice varieties based on grain length

M 1

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 M

365 bp
262 bp
147 bp

S L S S S S S S S S S S L L L L L L L L L L

Amplification pattern of DRR-GL in basmati and non basmati samples (M 100bp

ladder; 1 - Jeeraga samba; 2 Basmati 370; 3 to 12 short grain non basmati
samples; 13 to 22 long grain basmati samples; S Short grain; L Long grain)

(16 citations)

Fingerprinting of traditional, evolved and landrace

accessions of Basmati using EST-SSRs

1-Neelabati (ASGLLR); 2- Kalajeer (ASGLLR); 3- Bishnubhog (ASGLLR); 4- Sheetalkani (ASGLLR); 5Lectimachi (ASGLLR); 6-Tulasihganti (ASGLLR); 7- Basmati Mehtra (BLLR); 8- Tulasikanti (BLLR); 9Basmati Sathi (BLLR);
10- Basmati 443 (BLLR); 11- Basmati 397 (BLLR); 12- Basmati 334 (BLLR);
13- RB 2816 (BLLR); 14- Basmati 213 (BLLR); 15- Basmati 410 (BLLR); 16- Basmati 6129 (BLLR); 17Kanakjeer-B (ASGLLR); 18- Basmati Sufaid (BLLR); 19- Basmati 208 (BLLR); 20- Kanakjeer (ASGLLR);
21- Basmati 427 (BLLR); 22- Basmati Bahar (BLLR); 23-Basmati 62 (BLLR), and 24Basmati Kamon (BLLR).

SSR marker RM27507 can distinguish Aromatic short grain local land races and Basmati land races

(7 citations)

Fine-mapping of qGT6, a locus which is significantly associated with

gelatinization temperature in rice

Grain quality improvement

(32 citations)

(7 citations)

Introgression of Low soil phosphorus tolerance

QTL- Pup1 into elite Rice varieties- Improved
Samba Mahsuri, MTU1010 and IR-64 through
Marker-assisted back cross breeding

Methodology (MABB)
ISM, IR-64 and
MTU1010
(Recipient Parent)
IR-64 and
MTU1010

Swarna
(Donar Parent)

F1

Conformation of F1 and backcrossing

IR-64 and
MTU1010

BC1F1

Foreground, Recombinant, background

selection & Backcrossing

IR-64 and
MTU1010

BC2F1

Foreground, Recombinant, background

selection & Selfing

BC2F2

BC2F3

Identification of homozygous plants

Screening in low P plots of DRR,
Advancing
Identification of homozygous plants
Screening in low P plot of IIRR,
Advancing and nominating for trails.

Molecular markers employed in MABB

Foreground Selection

Chromosome 12
of rice

K46-1, K46-2 and K20-1-1

RM 28011,
SSR12-12.8
K20-11
K46-1

Background selection
Background selection
By using polymorphic 65
SSRs distributed across the
rice genome

Recombinant selection
PUP1
K462
ESSR-1220.2, SSR 1217.4

RM28011 , SSR12-12.8
and ESSR-12-20.2, SSR 12-

17.4

from 12 chromosome

Marker-assisted transfer of Pup1 QTL into Improved

Samba Mahsuri
Pup1 lines of Imp. Samba Mahsuri
show excellent tolerance in low PPlot

ISM

Pup1 + ISM

ISM

Pup1 lines of Imp. Samba Mahsuri show

excellent BB resistance

Markers used for

targeted transfer of
Pup1

MTU1010

Swarna

A
IR-64

IR-64

Introgressed lines

Swarna

IG-1

IG-2

Comparison of introgressed lines with respect to the parents in

Low soil P plot of IIRR

Swarna

IG-1

IG-2

Introgressed lines

A: Screening of BC2F3 introgressed lines of MTU1010 in Low soil P plot

B: Comparision of growth of BC2F3 lines of IR-64 in normal plot w.r.t to parents
C: Shoot length and root length comparision of introgressed lines with that of parental lines
D: Evaluation of introgressed lines in Zero soil P Plot of IIRR.

Area of research and its impacts

Genomics/Bioinformatics/other related areas

In silico mining of SSRs from organellar genome of rice

A study was carried out in silico to identify the extent and distribution of
microsatellite motifs in the mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes of rice

A total of 2528 SSRs in the mitochondrial genome and 870 SSRs in the
chloroplast genomes discovered. No class I SSR, mainly class II and class III

A set of 70 class II SSR markers specific for mitochondrial genome and

another 35 class II SSR markers specific for chloroplast genome have been
developed and validated to be useful for genetic and genomics studies

A mitochondrial SSR marker (drrcms) discovered through the study was

identified to be associated with WA-CMS trait (Rajendrakumar et al. 2007)

(55 citations)

In silico studies: SSRs in organellar genomes of cereals

In silico mining of (GATA)n SSRs from rice genome

A total of 243 (GATA)n motif containing SSRs in the rice genome. 65 of these were
present in the genic region, 59 were in the upstream region of the genes. Many of the
(GATA)n motifs were found within and/or upstream of genes associated with biotic or
abiotic stress tolerance.
Targeting these motifs a total of 230 class I SSR markers developed and validated

jGATA191

jGATA058

Genomic studies- gall midge resistance

Key role for OsPR10 in HR+ reaction

Genomic studies- resistance mechanisms

HR-ve reaction in Kavya:

Up regulation of (i) NADPH
oxidase, (ii) AtrbohF, (iii) cinnamoylCoA reductase, and (iv) vonWillebrand factor type A domain
containing protein coding genes

Genomic studies: Host-pathogen interactions.

(5 citations)

Other studies

(25 citations)

(35 citations)

Other studies.

(18 citations)

(11 citations)

Application of Biotech tools in crop breeding: We have seen just

the tip of the iceberg....
Exploited areas

Unexploited areas

Future plans and aspirations

Durable bacterial blight resistance in rice

Multi-trait packaging in rice- pyramiding of yield + biotic and abiotic

stress resistance genes/QTLs in the genetic background of elite rice
varieties (Developing elite breeding lines with Gn1a + SCM2 + OsSPL14
+ BB R + Blast R + BPH R + Pup1 + Saltol + Drt Tol)

Genomic and transcriptomic studies in relation to yield heterosis and

WA-CMS trait in rice

Host pathogen interaction ( Rice-Xanthomonas; Rice-U. virens; Rice-R.

solani)

Manipulating expression of sugar transporter in rice for enhancing BB

resistance, grain filling and yield

Progress of marker-assisted selection in different crops (India)

S.
No.

Crop

Trait
improved

Genes/QTLs

Research
group

Products/ varieties
developed

Rice

Bacterial blight
resistance

Xa21, xa13,
xa5

IIRR,
Hyderabad

Improved Samba Mahsuri

(~1 lakh ha)

Bacterial blight
resistance

Xa21, xa13

IARI, New
Delhi

Improved Pusa Basmati,

Improved versions of Pusa
Sugandh 6 and Pusa RH10

Bacterial blight
resistance

Xa21, xa13,
xa5, Xa4

NRRI,
Cuttack

Improved versions of
popular varieties Lalat,
Tapaswini and Jalmagna

Bacterial blight
resistance

Xa21, xa13,
xa5

TNAU,
Coimbatore

Improved versions of
ADT43, ADT47, ASD16

Blast
resistance

Pi1, Pi2, Pi54

IIRR,
Hyderabad

Improved versions of
Samba Mashuri and
hybrids DRRH3 and KRH2

Blast
resistance

Pi54, Piz5

IARI, New
Delhi

Improved versions of Pusa

Sugandh 6 and the hybrid
Pusa RH1-0

Blast
resistance

Pi1, Pi2, Pi33

TNAU,
Coimbatore

Improved versions of
ADT43

Progress of marker-assisted selection in different crops (India),

Continued.
S.
No.

Crop

Trait improved

Genes
/QTLs

Research
group

Products/ varieties
developed

Rice

Submergence
tolerance

Sub1A

NRRI,
Cuttack

Sub1-Swarna

Drought
tolerance

qDTY2.1
qDTY3.1
qDTY12.1

IIRR,
Hyderabad

Drought tolerant versions of

Samba Mahsuri and IR64

IARI, New
Delhi
TNAU,
Coimbatore

Salinity tolerant versions of

Pusa Basmati 1121

Salinity
SALTOL
tolerance
(seedling stage)

Salinity tolerant versions of

ADT43, Improved white
Ponni

Molecular Breeding team of ICAR-IIRR

Bacterial blight resistance

Bacterial blight resistance

RM Sundaram

MS Madhav

GS Laha

MS Prasad

A Fiyaz

Abiotic stress tolerance

Gall midge resistance

T Ram

AP Padmakumari

P Senguttuvel

RM Sundaram

K Suneetha

K Suneetha
Yield improvement
BPH resistance

RM Sundaram

G Padmavathi

MS Madhav

V. Jhansilakshmi

K Suneetha, P Senguttuvel,
A Fiyaz

MS Madhav

N Sarla, D Balakrishnan (wild QTLs)

IRRI-ICAR Collaborative Work plan

(2012-16)
Focus Areas:

1. Novel biotic stress resistance genes from wild

relatives of rice
2. Marker-assisted introgression of yield enhancing
alleles/genes

Project # 8 (biotic stress resistance):

30 wild rice introgression lines received form IRRI
Lines being screened
diseases and pests

for

resistance

against

multiple

Entries resistant to blast disease (after two rounds of

screening):
Highly resistant: IR 75870-8-1-2-B-6-1-1-B (O. glaberrima
introgression)
Resistant:

IR 75870-5-8-5-B-5-B, IR 75870-5-8-5-B-2-B,
IR 75870-5-8-5-B-1-B, IR 75870-8-1-2-B-6-2-

1-B
IR 80340-23-13-13-2-B-B, IR80340-23-B-132-B-3
IR77390-6-1-18-2-5

(all

O.

glaberrima

introgression)
IR 73382-80-9-3-13-2-2-1-3-B (O. rufipogon
introgression)
IR 75083-73-12-11-1-B-B (O. longistaminata
introgression)

IR75870-8-1-2-B-6-1-1B is highly resistant to

blast in repeated screenings
Tetep
(R check)

HR12
(S check)

IR 75870-8-1-2-B-6-1-1-B
(highly resistant)

IR 71033-121-15-B showed resistance to blast

in repeated screenings
Tetep
(R check)

IR 71033-121-15-B (resistant)

HR12
(S check)

Screening for BPH resistance

Resistant Lines identified:

IR 65482-7-216-1-2-B
IR 65482-7-216-1-2-B
IR73382-80-9-3-13-2-2-1-3-B
IR77390-6-2-18-2-B
IR75870-5-8-5-B-5-B

Screening for Gall midge resistance

Resistant Lines identified:

IR71033-121-15-15 9 (Bph 20/21)
IR73382-85-9-1-2-3-B-1-B

IR65482-4-136-2-2 (HWR15) is resistant to

sheath blight (Score 3.0)

Samba Mahsuri (susceptible )

IR65482-4-136-2-2 (tolerant)

This entry will be crossed with susceptible varieties, Swarna and

Samba Mahsuri during Rabi 2016

Project # 8 (biotic stress resistance):

None of the lines were resistant to bacterial blight
(Rabi 2016).

Screening of wild rice introgression lines against

bacterial blight (DX020 isolate)

Further, the lines will be screened against RTV and

gall midge during Kharif 2016.

Project # 8 (biotic stress resistance):

Selected blast, sheath blight, bacterial blight and
BPH tolerant introgression lines will be screened in
relevant nurseries/screening trails during AICRIP
2016. A few selected introgression lines showing
promise may be screened for resistance against neck
blast at a few selected centres of the AICRIP as a
special trial.

At IRRI, some of the blast and BPH resistant lines

have been crossed with the elite rice varieties, Samba
Mahsuri, Swarna and MTU1010 and segregating
populations have been developed

Recently seeds of some of the crossed lines/mapping

populations have been received and they have been
planted during Rabi 2016 in the field for seed
multiplication. These populations will be screened

Mapping population (wild rice derived)

HR16-117: IR113084-Samba Mahsuri x IR54751-1-2-44-15-2-3-B

Project # 11 (yield enhancement):

Focus at ICAR-IIRR is to transfer the yield
enhancing genes, Gn1a, SCM2, OsSPL14, GS5 and
GW2 into the elite rice varieties (Swarna, Improved
Samba Mahsuri, MTU1010)
Crosses have already been effected at IRRI and
limited quantity of seeds of early backcross derived
plants were shipped to IIRR and CRRI during 2015
and they have been planted in the field during
Kharif 2015.
Some of the lines in the genetic background of
Swarna and Samba Mahsuri possessing the genes
Gn1a, SCM2 and OsSPL14 were observed to show
excellent performance in the field.
Seeds have been harvested from these lines at the
end of Kharif 2015 and they have been planted in
replicated plots during Rabi 2016 for evaluation of
their agromorphological parameters and yield.

A backcross derived line of Samba Mahsuri possessing

Gn1a and SCM2

Project # 11 (yield enhancement):

Recently, seeds of backcrossed derived lines of
Samba Mahsuri, Swarna and MTU1010 possessing
the yield enhancing genes received from IRRI (386
lines). These lines were planted during Rabi 2016
for multiplication/evaluation. Selected lines from
these will be planted in replicated yield trials
during Kharif 2016.
ICAR-IIRR has also recently received seeds of 10
elite high yielding lines which possess 400-450
grains per panicle with better grain filling % and
optimum number of tillers. These lines will be
evaluated in at IIRR during Kharif 2016.
ICAR-IIRR together with CRRI and IRRI have
submitted a project proposal to DBT recently. The
project focuses on marker-assisted introgression of
selected yield enhancing genes to elite Indian rice
varieties. The project is still under review at DBT

Awards and Recognitions

ICAR-Lal Bahadur Shastri Outstanding Young Scientist Award 2011

Indo-US Science and Technology Fellowship

Associate-National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, India

ICAR-Hari Om Ashram Award 2013

CSIR Award for S & T Innovations in Rural Development 2013

PN Behl Award for Excellence in Crop Sciences 2012-13

DBT Biotechnolog Product and Process Development and

Commercialization Award 2015

Acknowledgements
Dr. B.C. Viraktamath, Dr. B. Mishra ,

Ramesh Sonti

Dr. N.P. Sarma, Dr. N. Shobha Rani

M.R. Vishupriya

Dr. V. Ravindra Babu

J. Yashitola

My scientific colleagues at IIRR

Technical Officer- Mr. G. Ashok Reddy

Research Scholars in my lab

Dr. K.K. Jena, IRRI

My family for their unstinting support and patience..

ICAR for nurturing my career.
The funding support from Rockefeller Foundation, ARBN, IUSSTF, ICAR
and DBT