'Rondo', a Long-Grain Indica Rice with Resistances to Multiple Diseases

Indica rice (Oryza sativa L) is needed to increase the genetic diversity in future U S cultivars Furthermore, resistant germplasm is needed to control newly occurring races of blast disease [Magnaporthe grisea (Hebert) Barr] 'Rondo' rice (Reg No CV-131, PI 657830) is a long-grain cultivar meeting these needs and was developed by the USDA-ARS through mutation breeding from a Chinese indica germplasm '4484' (PI 615022) Rondo's indica origin is genetically distant from U S cultivars Rondo is resistant to all major races of blast disease currently identified in the USA, including two newly reported races, TM2 and 1833, and five other rice diseases Among seven known resistance genes for blast, only Pr-b has been identified in Rondo, indicating that it may possess novel blast resistance genes The Uniform Regional Rice Nursery (URRN) conducted jointly in five southern rice-producing states demonstrated that Rondo yields similarly to 'Francis', 'Wells', and 'Cocodrie', high yielding cultivars in the mid-south USA Cereal quality analyses indicated that Rondo has the same parboiling, processing, and canning qualities as 'Dixiebelle' and 'Sabine', which have been accepted by the processing industry Additionally, it can be used as conventional long-grain rice Although the head rice yield appears at times to be lower than other long-grain cultivars, this should be less of a concern when it. is parboiled In conclusion, Rondo is a long-gain indica cultivar with high yield potential, an excellent disease resistance package, and premium processing quality Rondo has been entered in the U S germplasm collection and is available for commercial purposes through the Texas Research Improvement Association