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Feature:
Super rice, among others, released for commercial use
LOS BANOS, LAGUNA, Feb. 5 - The National Seed Industry Council (NSIC)
has recently approved 25 new varieties developed by the Philippine Rice
Research Institute (PhilRice), International Rice Research Institute (IRRI),
University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Philippine-Sino Center
for Center for Agricultural Technology (PhilSCAT), Syngenta, and
LongPing Philippines.
Dr. Oliver Manangkil, NSIC coordinator and head of the Plant Breeding
and Biotechnology Division of PhilRice, said in this batch of newly NSIC-approved
varieties, the IRRI-bred Rc480 stands out.
Popularly known as GSR (Green Super Rice) 8, the Rc480 is a multi-stress
variety resistant to abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity,
alkalinity, and iron toxicity. It can also grow under saline and
drought-prone environments. In addition, it has high and stable yields
despite lesser input requirement. Not only that, the super rice can
offer a maximum yield of 4.4 t/ha, matures in 107 days after sowing
(DAS), and has intermediate resistance to pests, such as yellow
stemborer (YSB) and brown plant-hoppers (BPH).
Manangkil said six of the newly released varieties are bred by PhilRice,
namely: Rc440 (Tubigan 39), NSIC Rc438 (Tubigan 38), and hybrid Rc446H (Mestiso
73) for irrigated lowland; Rc472 (Sahod Ulan 22) for rainfed lowland;
and Rc462 (Salinas 21) and Rc470 (Salinas 25) for saline environment.
“Yield-wise, Tubigan 39 can compete with hybrid rice varieties,”
Manangkil stressed. “It can give a maximum yield of 10.8 t/ha. It is
also given a national recommendation for exhibiting consistent
resistance to pest and diseases and outstanding yield results across the
country.” Moreover, it has an intermediate resistance to pests, such as
white and yellow stemborers (WSB, YSB), BPH, and green leaf-hoppers (GLH).
An early-maturing variety, it has 109 DAS maturity.(PhilRice) |
