Abstract: Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the third most important cereal crop in Kenya. Globally, rice remains the most favoured grain for human consumption. In Kenya and most of the African countries production is below the world averages. Rice Blast caused by Pyricularia. oryzae Cav. has been singled out as one of the main causes limiting production. The control of this disease has remained elusive. Variation of the pathogen in the population is suspect. This research was therefore carried out to analyze the genotypes of different isolates previously described morphologically. Eight Different Kenyan isolates identified from a previous survey were studied using DNA analysis and sequencing of the ITS region from the rice genome. Results revealed variation with respect to colony color, diameter, morphology and conidia shape & size. Sequenced Isolates clustered into four haplo groups (HGs), that is HG1 for isolate 4, HG2 for isolate 6, HG3 for isolate 7a and HG4 for isolate 7b.The new isolates’ sequences were submitted to the NCBI GenBank database and the accession numbers assigned as, Pyricularia oryzae KY275366, Pyricularia oryzae KY275367 and Pyricularia oryzae KY275368. The result of the present study demonstrates that there is a certain level of genetic diversity among isolates of P. oryzae from various regions of Kenya. The screening for resistance to P. oryzae therefore should take into account the different isolates in order to avoid cryptic error.
Keywords: Rice Blast, Pyricularia oryzae CAV. DNA sequencing Variation.
Title: Rice Blast Pyricularia oryzae CAV. Isolates in Kenya Characterized Sequenced and Registered
Author: Kariaga Mary Goretti, Wakhungu Jacob, Were, Hassan, Muoma David, Onamu Rose, Wekesa Clabe
International Journal of Life Sciences Research
ISSN 2348-313X (Print), ISSN 2348-3148 (online)
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