Genetic diversity studies and screening for rice stem borer (Chilo Agamemnon) resistance in six Egyptian rice cultivars (Oryza sativa L.) using DNA based-markers

In order to assess the genetic diversity among six Egyptian rice cultivars and developing cultivars resistant to different rice stem borers, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) and simple sequence repeats (SSR) analyses was resolved. The rice cultivars tested showed 80, 68 and 64 polymorphism percentages amongst them as revealed by rice marker SSR, SRAP and RAPD analyses respectively. The SSR, SRAP and RAPD analyses showed 18, 8 and 17 genotype-specific markers respectively. The dendrogram constructed based on the statistics gathered from different molecular markers explain the genetic relationship amongst the six Egyptian rice cultivars. The rice genome was screened for ten SSR locus associated with insects resistance genes which is located in distinctive chromosomes started from chromosome number 7 to number 12. The cultivars showed different number of alleles and Sakha 103 exhibited the highest allelic number (17 alleles) compared to the other cultivars tested. The genotype specific markers and the insect associated SSR markers can be used for cultivar identification at the molecular level and can be considered as useful markers for rice breeding and the effective management strategy to control pest.

Automated summary

Genetic diversity among six Egyptian rice cultivars was assessed using RAPD, SRAP, and SSR analyses to identify specific markers and insect resistance genes. The cultivars showed different levels of polymorphism and allelic numbers, with specific markers identified for molecular level cultivar identification and pest management strategies.