Success Story of DRR Dhan 53 – A Breakthrough in Bacterial Blight Resistant Fine-
Grain Rice
Rice farmers in several irrigated ecosystems of India have long struggled with bacterial
blight (BB) caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, leading to severe yield losses—sometimes up to 50% during monsoon seasons under high nitrogen fertilization. Popular fine-grain varieties such as Samba Mahsuri, though preferred for grain quality, were highly susceptible to this devastating disease.
Grain Rice
Rice farmers in several irrigated ecosystems of India have long struggled with bacterial
blight (BB) caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, leading to severe yield losses—sometimes up to 50% during monsoon seasons under high nitrogen fertilization. Popular fine-grain varieties such as Samba Mahsuri, though preferred for grain quality, were highly susceptible to this devastating disease.
To address this critical challenge, scientists at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research
developed DRR Dhan 53, a high-yielding, fine-grain rice variety with strong inbuilt resistance to bacterial blight through marker-assisted backcross breeding.
Technological Breakthrough
DRR Dhan 53 incorporates four major bacterial blight resistance genes — Xa21, xa13, xa5, and Xa38 — ensuring durable and broad-spectrum resistance. Developed from the
background of Improved Samba Mahsuri, it retains the superior grain and cooking
qualities while overcoming disease susceptibility.
Performance and Impact
Duration: 130–135 days (seed to seed)
Average yield: 5.5–6.0 t/ha
Yield advantage:
- 7% increase over recurrent parent across AICRIP trials.
- 15–30% higher yield under bacterial blight incidence compared to susceptible varieties.
Plant type: Semi-dwarf, non-lodging, fully exerted panicles
Grain type: Medium-slender with excellent head rice recovery (78.7%)
Cooking quality: Comparable to Samba Mahsuri, fetching premium market price
Farmers’ Benefits
Farmers cultivating DRR Dhan 53 in bacterial blight endemic states such as Andhra
Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Bihar, and Maharashtra have
reported:
✔ Significant reduction in yield losses due to BB
✔ Stable yields even under disease pressure
✔ Reduced need for chemical sprays
✔ Premium market price due to fine grain quality
✔ Improved income stability
Grain type: Medium-slender with excellent head rice recovery (78.7%)
Cooking quality: Comparable to Samba Mahsuri, fetching premium market price
Farmers’ Benefits
Farmers cultivating DRR Dhan 53 in bacterial blight endemic states such as Andhra
Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Bihar, and Maharashtra have
reported:
✔ Significant reduction in yield losses due to BB
✔ Stable yields even under disease pressure
✔ Reduced need for chemical sprays
✔ Premium market price due to fine grain quality
✔ Improved income stability
Transforming BB-Endemic Regions
The release of DRR Dhan 53 marked a major milestone in combining disease resistance
with premium grain quality, a long-standing breeding challenge. Its adoption has
strengthened farmers’ resilience in bacterial blight-prone areas and contributed to
sustainable rice production.
