Antixenosis and Tolerance of Rice Genotypes Against Brown Planthopper

Nine genotypes were evaluated under greenhouse conditions for antixenosis and tolerance against brown planthopper (BPH, Nilaparvata lugens Stål). In antixenosis studies, proportion of insects settled on a test genotype in relation to the susceptible control TN1 was recorded, with significantly lower proportion of nymphs (55.22%–59.18%), adult males (60.33%–60.75%), and adult females (80.56%– 79.26%) settled on RP2068-18-3-5 and Ptb33 in relation to those on TN1. Based on number of feeding sites, the test genotypes were ranked in order from the highest to the lowest as RP2068-18-3-5, Ptb33, MR1523, Rathu Heenati, Sinnasivappu, ARC10550, MO1, INRC3021 and TN1. The order was exactly reverse in terms of fecundity expressed as number of eggs laid per female. In tolerance studies, days to wilt, functional plant loss index and plant dry weight loss to BPH dry weight produced were recorded. RP2068-18-3-5, Rathu Heenati and Ptb33 performed better than the other test genotypes. These results helped in relative quantification of BPH resistance levels in the genotypes. RP2068-18-3-5, a new effective source of BPH resistance, can be used in resistance breeding after tagging of resistant genes/QTLs linked to different parameters of antixenosis and tolerance with selectable molecular markers.