Screening of Rice Genotypes for Resistance Against Brown Planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens): Insights for Sustainable Pest Management

Abstract

Brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), is an important insect pest of rice, and host plant resistance offers a sustainable approach to its management. This study evaluated 670 rice genotypes for resistance to BPH under glasshouse conditions at the Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, during 2023–2024. The genotypes were screened together with the resistant check Ptb 33 and susceptible check TN1 using the Standard Seed Box Screening Test and the Standard Evaluation System damage scale. Seedlings were infested with BPH nymphs, and promising entries were re-evaluated to confirm their resistance response. Considerable variation in plant damage scores was observed among the tested genotypes. Six genotypes—R 2551-C10-6-510-1, DR 8102, R 2297-6-1-3-1, Samleshwari, IGKV R 1244, and R2307-73-1-38-1—were classified as highly resistant, with damage scores ranging from 0.50 to 0.93. Fifty-one genotypes were resistant, with scores of 1.00–2.99, while 33 genotypes were moderately resistant, with scores of 3.01–4.91. A further 178 genotypes were moderately susceptible, with scores of 5.00–6.97, whereas 402 genotypes were susceptible or highly susceptible, with scores of 7.13–9.00. The resistant check Ptb 33 recorded a score of 1.38, and TN1 recorded 9.00. The identified highly resistant and resistant genotypes represent promising sources of BPH resistance for further evaluation and possible use in rice resistance-breeding programmes.