Development of near-isogenic lines and pyramided lines carrying resistance genes to green rice leafhopper (Nephotettix cincticeps Uhler) with the taichung 65 genetic background in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The green rice leafhopper (GRH), Nephotettix cincticeps Uhler, is a serious insect pest of cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) in temperate East Asia. Six GRH-resistance genes (Grh1, Grh2, Grh3, Grh4, Grh5, and Grh6) and one quantitative trait locus (QTL; qGRH4) have been identified. We selected near-isogenic lines (NILs) carrying Grh1, Grh2, Grh4, Grh5, Grh6, and qGRH4 with the japonica genetic background (Taichung 65 cultivar) by means of marker-assisted selection using new simple sequence repeat markers flanking the GRH-resistance genes and QTL. We also developed three pyramided lines (PYLs; Grh2/Grh6-PYL, Grh4/Grh6-PYL, and Grh5/qGRH4-PYL) using each NIL that carried a GRH-resistance gene or QTL. The NILs, PYLs, and donor parents were evaluated by using an antibiosis test. The resistance of Grh1-NIL and Grh5-NIL did not differ significantly from those of the donor parents, whereas the resistances of Grh2-NIL and Grh6-NIL were significantly lower than those of the donor parents. Grh4-NIL and qGRH4-NIL were highly susceptible. The resistance levels of the pyramided lines for Grh2 and Grh6, Grh4 and Grh6, and Grh5 and qGRH4 demonstrated a gene pyramiding effect that significantly increased their resistance. The developed NILs and PYLs should be useful genetic resources for rice improvement and deployment of the resistance genes.