Identification of the PCR markers tightly linked to genes that encode important agronomic traits is useful for marker-assisted selection (MAS). The rice
Pi5(t) locus confers broad-spectrum resistance to
Magnaporthe grisea, the causal agent of rice blast disease. It has been hypothesized that the
Pi5(t) locus carries the same gene as that encoded by the
Pi3(t) and
Pii(t) loci. We developed three PCR-based dominant markers (JJ80-T3, JJ81-T3, and JJ113-T3) from three previously identified BIBAC clones—JJ80, JJ81, and JJ113—that are linked to the
Pi5(t) locus. PCR analysis of 24 monogenic lines revealed that these markers are present only in lines that carry
Pi5(t),
Pi3(t), and
Pii(t). PCR and DNA gel-blot analysis of candidate resistance lines using JJ80-T3, JJ81-T3, and JJ113-T3 indicated that
Tetep is the likely donor of
Pi5(t). Of the 184 rice varieties tested, 34 carried the JJ80-T3-, JJ81-T3-, and JJ113-T3-specific bands. Disease evaluation of those 34 varieties revealed that all conferred resistance to PO6-6. The genomic structure of three of these resistant varieties (i.e., IR72,
Taebaeg,
Jahyangdo) is most similar to that of
Pi5(t). Our results demonstrate the usefulness of the JJ80-T3, JJ81-T3, and JJ113-T3 markers for MAS for
M. grisea resistance.
Communicated by Q. Zhang
G.Yi and S.-K. Lee contributed equally to this work.