Written by the Web Team
NSIC Rc214 (Tubigan 16) and Rc212 (Tubigan 15), rice varieties bred by the International Rice Research Institute, outperformed other varieties tested in the Location-Specific Technology Development (LSTD) project sites of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Mindanao.
The varieties, released in 2009, were found to be more productive by farmers in Asuncion and Tagum City, Davao del Norte; Veruela, Agusan del Sur; and Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte. The sites are among the 107 LSTD areas in the country’s second largest and easternmost island.
NSIC Rc214, which matures in 110 days and has about 67 percent milling recovery, was observed to produce more panicles and tillers, has heavy grains, and could withstand pest attack. Other evaluated varieties include NSIC Rc216, 128, 160, and 82.
“NSIC Rc214 was damaged by white stem borer during its vegetative phase and was hit by heavy rains, but after few months, we observed that the variety recovered and grew well,” Raul Alingalan, farmer innovator in Del Pilar, New Corella, Davao del Norte said. The variety was tested for two cropping seasons in the area.
Rice self-sufficiency officer Henry Jimenez added that the variety’s crop cut in Agusan del Norte yielded 6.2 t/ha, half a ton higher than NSIC Rc212 (5.9t/ha), Rc216 (5.9t/ha), Rc128 (5.7t/ha), and Rc18 (5.7t/ha).
On the other hand, NSIC Rc212 was found to have better crop stand and is resistant to white stemborer in Agusan del Sur, agricultural technologist Nona Ramillano reported after evaluating the variety for a cropping season.
Maturing in 115 days, NSIC Rc212 has intermediate resistant to bacterial leaf blight, leaf blast, brown planthopper, and green leafhopper. The variety also yields an average of 6 t/ha and 5.6 t/ha when transplanted and direct-seeded, respectively.
