Development of Salt Tolerance in Rice Through Marker Assisted Selection

1. Development of Salt Tolerance in Rice Through Marker Assisted Selection Tin Tin Myint, and Thida Department of Agricultural Research (DAR), Yezin, Nay Pyi Taw Myanmar 27th April 2009

2. Introduction • National Goal -To increase rice production for local consumption and export • Total rice area of Myanmar - 7 m/ha (2007) • National Average Yield - 3.7t/ha • Rice area distribution based on different eco-system -Irrigated lowland -Rainfed lowland -Drought prone -Flood prone -Salt affected area

3. Favorable lowland rice 20% Favorable rainfed lowland rice 48% Unfavorable rainfed lowland rice 32% Salt Affected Area 5% Rice area distribution based on different eco-system

4. Problems for Salt Affected Area • Lower Yield • Use of local varieties • Poor grain and eating quality • Red grain • Logging type

5. Objectives • To transfer the salt tolerant QTLs into popular rice variety Sin Thwe Latt (IR56936-60-3-2-3-1) by developing line conversion through Marker Assisted Selection Expectation • To increase rice production for salt affected target area by use of salt tolerant Sin Thwe Latt improved lines

6. Scientific Activities

7. Fig1-B. Breeding Program of Salt Tolerance Rice improvement（2003－2008） Year No. of families BC3F3(245lines) 2006WS 17 GCP&BIOTEC MAS BC3F4(77plts ) 2007DS 17 BC3F4 2007WS IR53936 × BC3F4 MAS BC4F1 2007WS 10 MAS BC4F2 BC3F5 2008DS 8 , 42 Evaluation for Yield Performance Test in Yezin, Meikhtila and Myaungmya 2008WS 17 15(56lines)

8. Marker Assisted Selection on different generations of IR53936 x Pokkali introgression lines 2007-2009

9. Screening test in concrete pond • Location /Year - Rice division ,DAR, Yezin / 2008 WS • Test entries - 56+ 2 Parents • Experimental Design- 58x3xRCB • Treatments - (1) NaCl 9ds/m , (2) Control • Recording - data were recorded at 50% flowering and maturity stage. • Results - 17 lines among 56 tested were found with stress score (3-5) and Filled grain (27-65%) compared with parent IR53936

10. Screening testin Yoshida Solution • Treatment NaCl =9ds/m in Yoshida solution (Yoshida et al.1976)    • Tested lines 56lines + 2 parents • Data recorded 16 Days after salt treatment  According to Modified standard evaluation score(SES)of visual salt injury(Gregorio et al., 1997) • Results 16 lines were found comparing with Parent Pokkali in Survival rate (50-100%), and Stress Score (2.5-6)

11. Field testing and trait validation • Tested locations -Yezin, Meikhtila and Myaungmya • Experimental Design -58x2xRCB • Test entries -56 • Standard checks - IR53936 and Pokkali • Spacing -20x20cm • Plot size -5m x 0.8m(4m2) • No. of rows/plot -4 • No. of Seedlings/ hill -Single plant

12. Field Test in Yezin

13. Field Testing in Meikhtila

14. Yield, Agronomic trait and Quality trait for selected lines

15. Future plan • The selected 14 lines will be conducted as General Yield Trial again in Yezin, Kyaukse, Meikhtila and Myaungmya in 2009 ,WS. • At the same time on farm trials will be carried out to select by farmer participatory approach at inland area such as Sagaing and Mandalay division and costal salinity area as Ayeyawaddy and Bago division. • There will be started to produce initial seeds at DAR, Yezin in 2009 Wet season.

16. Conclusion • The applicable results was obtained from varietal improvement program of Sinthwelatt x Pokkali cross through Marker Assisted Selection within 2003-2008. • Most of selected salt tolerant introgression lines are non sensitive to photoperiod. They can be grown in both of monsoon and late monsoon seasons. • They have translucent and slender long grain with good eating quality like parent IR53936. It was also found that they have medium plant height (94-127cm), medium duration (about 138 days) and more grains per panicle. • It will be very effective to increase rice production of salt affected areas of Myanmar.

17. Comment on the Project (A) on behalf of the Institute • This training is fruitful and applicable collaboration between DAR,BIOTEC and GCP . It will be very effective to increase rice production for saline and alkaline soil under both rainfed and irrigated condition. • DAR wishes continuously to do other integrated Research collaboration on different rice eco-systems with RGDU and BIOTEC. • Hilly area of Myanmar is 4% total rice area where it is very serious of Blast disease that’s why it is very difficult to get target yield (5 t/ h). • Now it will be the best way to improve local germplasms with blast resistance gene by Molecular breeding for near future.

18. Comment on the Project (B) Personal • The background theory on Molecular breeding should be taught in initial period of project more than this training. • It should be take more time for training period because it is difficult to understand the detail lab work and theory.

19. Acknowledgement • Development of successful salt tolerant breeding program for Myanmar was supported by collaboration of National Centers for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), Generation Challenge Program (GCP) and Department of Agricultural Research (DAR). • The authors would like to express sincerely thank and acknowledge to Dr.Apichart Vanavichit( Director),Dr.Theerayut Toojinda (Principal investigator ), Dr.Jona Siangliw and the staff member of the Rice Gene Discovery Unit (RGDU), and National Centers for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), Thailand for their cooperation in laboratory works. • We would like to thank deeply for encouragement of Director General, Dr. Toe Aung, Daw Khin Than Nwe, Director of Rice Division and U Khin Soe ,Director of Biotechnology Division of DAR.

20. THANK YOU!