Breeding for disease resistant varieties remains very effective and economical in controlling the bacterial leaf blight (BLB) of rice. Breeders have played a major role in developing resistant rice varieties against the BLB infection which has been adjudged to be a major disease causing significant yield reduction in rice. It would be difficult to select rice crops with multiple genes of resistance using the conventional approach alone. This is due to masking effect of genes including epistasis. In addition, conventional breeding takes a lot of time before a gene of interest can be introgressed. Linkage drag is also a major challenge in conventional approach. Molecular breeding involving markers has facilitated the characterization and introgression of BLB disease resistance genes. Biotechnology has brought another innovation in form of genetic engineering (transgenesis) of rice. Although, molecular breeding cannot be taken as a substitute for conventional breeding, molecular approach for combating BLB disease in rice is worthwhile given the demand for increased production of rice in a fast growing population of our society. This present article highlights the recent progress from conventional to molecular approach in breeding for BLB disease resistant rice varieties.

Currently, the global agricultural system is focused on a limited number of crop species, thereby presenting a threat to food security and supply, especially with predicted global climate change conditions. The importance of ‘underutilized’ crop species in meeting the world’s demand for food has been duly recognized by research communities, governments and policy makers worldwide. The development of underutilized crops, with their vast genetic resources and beneficial traits, may be a useful step towards solving food security challenges by offering a multifaceted agricultural system that includes additional important food resources. Bambara groundnut is among the beneficial underutilized crop species that may have a positive impact on global food security through organized and well-coordinated multidimensional breeding programs. The excessive degrees of allelic difference in Bambara groundnut germplasm could be exploited in breeding activities to develop new varieties. It is important to match recognized breeding objectives with documented diversity in order to significantly improve breeding. This review assesses the genetic diversity of Bambara groundnut, as well as important factors involved in realizing and harnessing the potential of this crop.

Brown planthopper (BPH; Nilaparvata lugens Stal) is considered the main rice insect pest in Asia. Several BPH-resistant varieties of rice have been bred previously and released for large-scale production in various rice-growing regions. However, the frequent surfacing of new BPH biotypes necessitates the evolution of new rice varieties that have a wide genetic base to overcome BPH attacks. Nowadays, with the introduction of molecular approaches in varietal development, it is possible to combine multiple genes from diverse sources into a single genetic background for durable resistance. At present, above 37 BPH-resistant genes/polygenes have been detected from wild species and indica varieties, which are situated on chromosomes 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Five BPH gene clusters have been identified from chromosomes 3, 4, 6, and 12. In addition, eight BPH-resistant genes have been successfully cloned. It is hoped that many more resistance genes will be explored through screening of additional domesticated and undomesticated species in due course.

This study investigated oil palm inflorescence sex ratio (ISR) and fruit set (FS) yield among 24 dura × pisifera biparental progenies on fibric peat soil, hybridized from ten genetic origins. Three-month intervals of data collection on ISR and “S-shape” procedure for FS determination were carried out in an independent complete randomized design for one year. Based on the assessment of individual progenies, analysis of variance revealed the existence of genetic heterogeneity. Five of the progenies had the highest ISR above 90%. However, 20.83% of the progenies (PK4841, PK4674, ECPHP415, ECPHP550, and PK4118) had the best normal range of ISR, indicating FS declined being influenced by ISR. Therefore, only 12.50% of the progenies (PK4674, PK4465, and PK4482) were above 60% FS critical level. Correlation analysis verified that ISR depends on the female flower and progeny PK4674 (65.78%) and PK4465 (62.62%) had the best FS and fruit to bunch. Among the parental origins, Deli Serdang × Cameroon was statistically the best for male flower production at 29.40% and ISR at 72.22%. The highest FS was recorded in Deli Banting × AVROS (54.00%) and Angola × AVROS (53.78%). However, molecular research, such as microsatellite molecular markers if concurrently used as a selection criterion with the present conventional study, could present further details to complement the present findings.

This experiment was conducted to genotypically and phenotypically select new rice lines pyramided with blast and bacterial leaf blight disease resistance genes after a marker-assisted backcross breeding programme. The inter-relationship among agro-morphological characteristics and their effect on yield was also studied. The polymorphic functional and microsatellite markers Xa21FR and pTA248 (Xa21), Xa13prom (xa13), RM21 (xa5), MP (Xa4), RM6836 (Pi2, Pi9 & Piz) and RM8225 (Piz) were first confirmed for the target genes. The selected markers were used for foreground selection of BC2F2 homozygous progenies with the target genes. Plants that had homozygous IRBB60 alleles for these markers were evaluated for their recovery of the recurrent parent genome. IRBB60 was used as the donor parent for bacterial blight resistance genes while Putra-1 served as a recipient/recurrent parent with background blast-resistance genes and high yield. After the foreground selection, 79 polymorphic simple sequence repeat markers identified from the marker polymorphism survey were used for marker-assisted background selection to determine the percentage recovery of the recurrent parent genome. In order to make a selection on a phenotypic basis, 14 agro-morphological traits were measured and recorded. The result obtained from the study showed that 16 lines received the seven resistance genes in sufficiently varied numbers and were selected. The distribution of yield per hectare showed that about 50% of the selected lines had yields as high as 5 t/ha and above. Some of the lines produced as high as 8.4 t/ha. These lines demonstrated the potential of recording uniform 8t/ha upon recombination at BC2F2. The study also indicated that the number of panicles per hill correlated strongly, significantly and positively with the number of tillers (r = 0.962 **), total grain weight per hill (r = 0.928 **) and yield per hectare (r = 0.927 **). It was concluded that the newly improved resistant lines which were selected have the capability to compete with Putra-1 in terms of its productivity and yield. The newly developed lines would be useful in future breeding programmes as donors for bacterial leaf blight and blast resistance genes. These lines are recommended for release to farmers in Malaysia and other rice-growing agro-ecologies for commercial cultivation.