Pi35(t), a new gene conferring partial resistance to leaf blast in the rice cultivar Hokkai 188.

The japonica rice cultivar Hokkai 188 shows a high level of partial resistance to leaf blast. For mapping genes conferring the resistance, a set of 190 F2 progeny/F3 families was developed from the cross between the indica rice cultivar Danghang-Shali, with a low level of partial resistance, and Hokkai 188. Partial resistance to leaf blast in the F3 families was assessed in upland nurseries. From a primary microsatellite (SSR) linkage map and QTL analysis using a subset of 126 F2 progeny/F3 families randomly selected from the above set, one major QTL located on chromosome 1 was detected in the vicinity of SSR marker RM1216. This QTL was responsible for 69.4% of the phenotypic variation, and Hokkai 188 contributed the resistance allele. Segregation analysis in the F3 families for partial resistance to leaf blast was in agreement with the existence of a major gene, and the gene was designated as Pi35(t). Another QTL detected on chromosome 8 was minor, explained 13.4% of the phenotypic variation, and an allele of Danghang-Shali increased the level of resistance in this QTL. Additional SSR markers of the targeted Pi35(t) region were further surveyed in the 190 F2 plants, and Pi35(t) was placed in a 3.5-cM interval flanked by markers RM1216 and RM1003.