Leaf and Neck Blast Resistance in Tropical Lowland Rice Cultivars

The classification of neck blast resistance of intermediate and susceptible lines varied between trials, mostly due to differences in flowering date. The mean leaf blast values from the miniplot trials were positively correlated with the mean neck blast values from the lowland trials. Some lines, however, were exceptions to this general relationship. Lines of particular interest to breeders should be screened for neck blast resistance; improved methods are required, particularly for neck blast testing