The Philippines
May 25, 2010
PhilRice and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) developed PSB Rc82-Sub1 lines through marker-assisted breeding approach making the transfer of submergence-tolerant gene (sub1) significantly less time-consuming.
Rice breeding typically takes 8 to 11 years to complete. However with DNA marker-assisted breeding, Loida M. Perez, lead author of the paper titled PSB Rc82-Sub1: A New Submergence Tolerant Rice Cultivar Developed Through Marker-Assisted Breeding, said that DNA marker-assisted breeding is estimated to save at least 3 to 6 years in the breeding process.
Perez explained that DNA markers are ‘landmarks’ that point plant breeders to a specific region of interest in the chromosome, thereby lessening the process.”
“With strong partnership of scientists between PhilRice and IRRI and funding from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the IRRI-Japan Submergence Tolerance Project of Dr. David J. Mackill, we have embarked on the project of transferring the sub1 from NSIC Rc194 (IR64-Sub1) into PSB Rc82, a popular and high yielding irrigated rice cultivar with known resistance to major rice pests and diseases,” she said.
PhilRice and IRRI identified four PSB Rc82-Sub1 materials. Initial morpho-agronomic traits such as grain quality revealed that the improved PSB Rc82-Sub1 materials were comparable to the original PSB Rc82 (non-sub1). All four lines had fixed sub1 and were established in 2010 dry season at PhilRice Central Experiment Station to determine yield and yield-related parameters and to produce seed for evaluation and promotion in submergence or flash flood-prone areas in the country.
In the paper, it was discussed that sub1 is responsible for submergence tolerance in rice at vegetative stage for up to 2 weeks.
From an Indian rice variety FR13A, it was successfully transferred to IR64 via marker-assisted breeding at IRRI producing IR64-Sub1, which was recently registered as commercial variety by the National Seed Industry Council of the Philippines as NSIC Rc194 with a local name “Submarino 1” for the flood-prone ecosystems in the country.
With the release of Submarino 1, however, Perez said researchers continued to develop other lines or varieties with submergence tolerance such as the PSB Rc82-Sub1 for farmers to have options on the variety to use in pest and disease-stricken rainfed areas in the country.
The paper, adjudged as best paper in the rice technology, socio-economics, impact assessment, policy, and market for rice productivity category during the 23rd National Rice Research and Development last March 3-5, was co-authored with Joanne M. Domingo, Haizel M. Pastor, Henry Ticman, Jocelyn Bagarra, Marites Camus, Roberto Baybado, Nenita V. Desamero, Darlene Sanchez, Alvaro Pamplona, Endang Septiningsih, and David J. Mackill.
Submergence or flash flood-prone rice areas in the Philippines are estimated at around 300,000 hectares. In addition to damages brought by typhoons and floods in lowland farms, rice farming productivity is very low in these areas because farmers plant rice only once a year.
DA-PhilRice is a government-owned and –controlled corporation that aims at developing high-yielding and cost-reducing technologies so farmers can produce enough rice for all Filipinos.
For more information, please visit or contact DA-PhilRice at Maligaya, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija with telephone number (044) 456-0285 loc 511/512 or any PhilRice station near you. You may also visit their website at www.philrice.gov.ph or text your questions to 0920-911-1398.
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