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 27 th April 2009

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

Rice area distribution based on different eco-system  Favorable lowland rice 20%  Favorable rainfed lowland rice 48%  Unfavorable rainfed lowland rice32%  Salt Affected Area 5%

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

Objectives  To transfer the salt tolerant QTLs into popular rice variety Sin Thwe Latt (IR ) 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

Scientific Activities

Fig1-B. Breeding Program of Salt Tolerance Rice improvement （ 2003 － 2008 ） Evaluation for Yield Performance Test in Yezin, Meikhtila and Myaungmya GCP&BIOTECMAS Year × BC 3 F 4 IR53936 BC 3 F 4 (77plts ) BC 3 F 3 (245lines) MAS 2006WS 2007DS 2007WS 2008DS 2008WS No. of families , 42 BC 4 F 1 BC 4 F 2 MAS BC 3 F 4 BC 3 F 5 15(56lines) 17

Marker Assisted Selection on different generations of IR53936 x Pokkali introgression lines TrainingGeneration Marker Used Year Tested Tested Samples plants Selected plants Genotype group 1 st training BC3F4SalT, RM May 2007 May Homo PK Mono 2 nd training BC4F1SalT 2007 Nov HeteroHomoPK 3 rd training BC4F2BC3F5 SalT,RM10720,RM3412 RM1287,RM10772, RM May Homo PK HomoPK 3 rd training BC4F2BC3F5Waxy,RM21,RM5349,RM May Homo IR

Screening test in concrete pond Location /Year - Rice division,DAR, Yezin / 2008 WS Test entries 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

Screening test in Yoshida Solution TreatmentNaCl =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) Results16 lines were found comparing with Parent Pokkali in Survival rate (50-100%), and Stress Score (2.5-6)

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

DTF VGPAcpPHTPTTGFGGW1000YT IR Pokkali Mean %LSD Prob **ns **ns* CV% Field Test in Yezin

ENTRYDTFVGSSPAcpPHTPTTGFGGW1000YT IR Pokkali Mean %LSD Probns * ** CV% Field Testing in Meikhtila

Yield, Agronomic trait and Quality trait for selected lines ProgeniesLife period days Plant Ht (cm) PAcpPAcp Mean Yield (t/h) Amylose % GCGrain appearance Survival (%) Yoshida Stress score in pond Stress Score in MTL soil Yn MedClear5035 Yn HardClear5053 Yn HardClear Yn SoftClear Yn MedClear6053 Yn MedClear7034 Yn MedClear5554 Yn HardClear6553 Yn HardClear7054 Yn MedClear1553 Yn HardClear7045 Yn HardClear Yn HardClear7054 Yn SoftClear IR SoftClear 566

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.

Conclusion  The applicable results was obtained from varietal improvement program of Sinthwelatt x Pokkali cross through Marker Assisted Selection within  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 IR It was also found that they have medium plant height ( cm), 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.

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.

(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. Comment on the Project

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.