Combining Blast Resistance and High Yield in F1 Aromatic Rice Through Classical Hybrid Breeding Approaches

Rice blast caused by the outbreak rapidly in Bangladesh brings about an imminent threat to the production of rice causing an average 40% yield loss in boro rice with infection rates ranging from 20 to 80%. Fewer high-yielding aromatic rice are available due to limiting genetic potential for high yields. To address these problems a study was conducted from July 2021 to December 2022 at the Jute Research Institute, Nashipur, Dinajpur, to develop high-yielding, blast-resistant F aromatic rice employing conventional breeding methods. The site at 24.000° N, 90.250° E, and 34 meters above sea level, is part of the Old Himalayan Piedmont Plain in Agro-Ecological Zone-1 (AEZ-1). The study shows that the F generation often exhibits hybrid vigor, characterised by greater resilience and performance compared to parent lines. This is promising for agriculture, especially in developing high-yielding, blast-resistant rice varieties that support sustainable farming and food security. The F genotype AR08 exhibited the maximum 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP) content, while the Munni genotype showed the minimum. Nine promising F aromatic rice lines with moderate to high blast resistance were developed through targeted parental crosses. Among them, AR03, AR04, and AR09 showed the best resistance to blast and yield potential, while other F genotypes like AR02, AR06, AR08, AR10, and AR11 outperformed their parents in yield traits with moderate blast resistance. AR01, AR03, AR04, AR05 and AR09 are recommended for developing blast-resistant, high-yielding rice varieties, offering significant potential for sustainable farming and preserving the cultural heritage of aromatic rice.