Analysis of the Distribution of Rice Blast Pathogens in High-Altitude North Korea Border Areas and Domestic Rice Cultivars

To explore the distribution and the resistance reaction of rice blast pathogens that may occur in North Korea, rice blast pathogens in the North Korean border regions of Dandong and Yeon-gil in China and the North Korean border region of Cheorwon in South Korea were analyzed. In addition, comparative analysis was conducted with rice blast pathogen in Suwon and Jeonju, inland regions of South Korea. Resistance reactions above average were observed in monogenic rice lines (IRBLzt-T, IRBL9-W, IRBL20-IR24, and IRBLta-CP1) in Jeonju, Suwon, and Cheorwon from 2018 to 2020. In Dandong and Yeon-gil, the monogenic lines IRBLz5-CA, IRBL12-M, and IRBL19-A consistently showed resistance reactions for three years. Notably, IRBL19-A exhibited strong resistance. Race distribution analysis in South Korea indicated a shift from KI to KJ dominance from 2018 to 2020, while in the North Korean border regions of Dandong and Yeon-gil, the KI race was dominant in 2021 and 2022. The race distribution of rice blast pathogens in China's North Korean border regions differed significantly from that in South Korea.