Screening of Rice accessions for assessing resistance to Brown Planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens Stål

Rice accessions were evaluated for their resistance to the brown plant hopper, Nilaparvata lugens Stal (BPH) using a greenhouse experiment. A set of 30 cultivated varieties of rice was screened to assess the level of resistance to BPH. The level of resistance was evaluated based on the severity of symptoms caused by insects and screening studies revealed that three varieties (Rathu Heenati, PTB 33 and ASD 18) to be resistant with a damage score of 3 or less. Twelve varieties were found to be moderately resistant to BPH with a damage score of 3.1- 5.0 whereas ten varieties were found to be susceptible with a damage score of 5.1- 7.0. The other five rice varieties were categorized as highly susceptible with a damage score of 7.1- 9.0.