As they say, prevention is better than cure. Researchers at Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) are studying the impact of the emergence of the world’s worst weed in irrigated lowland rice production. Cyperus rotundus L. or purple nutsedge also locally called as mutha, sudsud, and barsanga, which is previously known to grow only in the upland, is now quite prevalent in the lowland. As mutha is considered the worst weed […]

Early in 2015 the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Service Administration officially announced the onslaught of El Niño in the Philippines that caused drastic decline in crop production. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority shows that rice and corn alone respectively fell by 818,000 and 251,800 mt that year compared in 2014. Losses were also recorded in sugarcane, coffee, tobacco, onion, cabbage, and rubber. It was one of the strongest […]

Photo courtesy: Edwin C. Martin In a study conducted by a team of PhilRice’s weed science researchers, it appears that the growth and development of weedy rice are higher than cultivated rice. It also matures earlier than cultivated rice and its seedlings can survive even in adverse environmental conditions. Weedy rice is a type of a grain-bearing weed, considered as a pest, which reduces rice yields, affects quality of rice […]

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Cheaper crop establishment cost, reduced seeding rate, and more accurate seeding compared with manual broadcasting are the main features of the new multi-purpose seeder (MP seeder) for direct seeding. During the field trials for the MP seeder last year, PhilRice engineers saw impressive results especially for farmers in the rainfed areas. “The machine is attached to a handtractor as it is common among farmers and many of them own a […]

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A PhilRice study on the development of submergence-drought tolerant breeding lines has identified six recombinant inbred lines (RILs) that show good phenotypic traits, high tolerance to submergence and drought stresses, and high grain yield. According to Jonathan S. Conception, among the study researchers, recombinant lines are products of conventional breeding where two varieties with desirable characteristics are crossed or paired to arrive at desired traits. Breeding lines were developed from […]

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Rice shows healthy growth 14days after desubmergence Photo credit: Jonathan S. Concepcion PhilRice has recently developed a new breeding line, which shows high submergence tolerance. In the Development of NSIC Rc160-Sub1: Progress on marker-assisted breeding study, PhilRice researchers reported 90 to 95% survival of advanced breeding materials under submerged conditions.  The same trial in 2012 reported only 58% survival. The research team employed different levels of submergence in two stages […]

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Rapid decrease in moisture content (MC) without affecting grain quality is among the advantages of using the Rapid FIRE dryer that is now underway for public testing. The study “Development of far infrared ray emitter rapid paddy dryer (Rapid FIRE)” led by PhilRice Scientist Engr. Manuel Jose C. Regalado has shown promising results in drying fresh paddy, which is seen to benefit traders, processors, and farmers during wet season. This […]

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Capillarigation is an irrigation system that capitalizes on the capillary principle. It uses capillary wicks instead of drippers used in drip irrigation system. In capillarigation, a stable supply of water is provided within the plants’ root zone, making water (as well as the nutrients mixed with it) always available to the plants. “To come up with cost- and water-efficient way of irrigating plants is our main goal in this  project,” […]

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The project “Real time deployment of pathogen-resistance genes in rice” is funded through the Newton Fund Sustainable Rice Programme and PhilRice’s Competitive Grant Scheme, involving international experts from the UK, Thailand, and the Philippines. It addresses challenges in global and regional food security in a changing climate by addressing issues relating to crop pests and diseases. It aims to develop and apply a combined modelling and field monitoring approach to […]

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Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is a government corporate entity attached to the Department of Agriculture created through Executive Order 1061 on 5 November 1985 (as amended) to help develop high-yielding and cost-reducing technologies so farmers can produce enough rice for all Filipinos.

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Philippine Rice Research Institute