SCREENING OF PROMISING RICE GENOTYPES AND VARIETIES AGAINST PANICLE MITE, STENEOTARSONEMUS SPINKI

Abstract

Rice panicle mite, Steneotarsonemus spinki Smiley (Acari: Tarsonemidae) infests leaf mid rib, flag leaf sheath and causes brown discolouration its infestation on panicle causes chaffy grains and discolouration of filled or ill-filled grains leading to yield losses ranging from 4 -27%. Studies were conducted at rice section, ARI, Rajendranagar by selecting 172 elite rice genotypes / varieties during kharif 2015 and twenty popular varieties during kharif 2015 & 2016 to screen and identify resistance sources against panicle mite. Based on these studies, 16 resistant rice genotypes and three rice varieties viz., Sabita, Karimnagar Samba (JGL 3844) and RNR 15038 were identified against panicle mite, which were having good panicle exertion. They can be incorporated in breeding programmes as potential donors in evolving panicle mite resistant varieties.