Biochemical Analysis for Rice Germplasm Lines for Combat against Yellow Stem Borer, Scirpophaga incertulas: Implication for Varietal Selection of Rice in India

Seven germplasm lines (IC No. 381538, 450535, 463380, 464140, 464186, 574807 and 578388) were categorised as best entries with resistance/ moderately resistant reaction at both vegetative (dead hearts) and reproductive (white ears) stages of the rice crop through field screening trials for two successive seasons i.e., kharif, 2016 and kharif, 2017. Complex factors like behavioural, metabolic processes of the insects and biochemical constituents of the host plants are involved in resistance to rice stem borers. Exploiting the mechanism of induced resistance in rice through abiotic elicitors is the need of the hour. Keeping in view the damage of yellow stem borer and its influence on rice yield the promising seven entries were selected for biochemical analysis. The analysis revealed that entries with low sugars and low free amino acids and high total phenols, proteins, proline and silica content may confer resistance to rice yellow stem borer and can be subjugated in the breeding programme to develop resistant varieties.