Breeding for bacterial blight resistance in rice requires an understanding of the contemporary pathogen populations in the locations where resistance genes are to be deployed. We characterized 450 strains of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae collected from three states of India using polymerase chain reaction fingerprinting and virulence analysis. This pathogen collection was differentiated into 17 haplotypes (12 lineages at 80% similarity level). Significant differences in the distribution of haplotypes were observed among regions. Virulence analysis of the pathogen collection revealed nine pathotypes. Among the populations from three regions, the Orissa population was the most diverse, consisting of 11 out of 17 haplotypes and five out of nine pathotypes detected in the total collection. Representative pathotypes were used to evaluate seven near-isogenic lines carrying individual bacterial blight resistance genes (Xa3, Xa4, xa5, Xa7, Xa10, xa13, and Xa21) and gene pyramids. Pathogen strains compatible to individual genes were present in detectable frequencies, although no single strain could overcome all resistance genes. Gene combinations Xa4 + xa5, xa5 + Xa21, and Xa4 + xa5 + Xa21 conferred a broad spectrum of resistance to all the strains evaluated, supporting the strategy of pyramiding appropriate resistance genes.

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The micronutrient required in minute quantity and their deficiency leads to diminished growth and yield of crops. The field experiment was carried out at College Farm, Rajendranagar during rabi 2015-16 with factorial randomized block design with two factors sorghum genotypes and zinc levels. Findings revealed that varieties and fertilization spray had significant on zinc concentration and uptake by grain and stover of sorghum. Variety CSV -31 (V2) and soil application of zinc sulphate @ 50 kg ha -1 + foliar spray of ZnSO4 @ 0.2% at knee high stage and at flowering (F5) gave significantly highest zinc concentration and uptake by grain and stover in comparison to their respective treatments.