IMG_8970The 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, Rc480 is resistant to multiple 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.

To view the complete list of the latest NSIC-released varieties and their characteristics, click here.

For more information about the newly-approved varieties, call or text the PhilRice Text Center at 0920 911 1398.

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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