The Philippines
May 10, 2007
By Sosimo Ma. Pablico,
The Philippine STAR via SEAMEO
SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center
The
National Seed Industry Council (NSIC) released last week a
new hybrid rice variety that is high yielding and suitable in
Luzon and seven other regions in the Visayas and Mindanao. It is
recommended for transplanted culture in irrigated lowland in
both dry and wet seasons.
Bred by
Bioseed Research Philippines, Inc.
but developed with the national Rice Varietal Improvement Group
led by PhilRice
(Philippine Rice Research Institute), the new variety carries
the official name NSIC Rc162H or Mestizo 8. More
popularly known as BIO 401, it has good grain and good
eating qualities.
In on-farm techno-demonstrations, BIO 401 yielded 10.3 tons per
hectare (t/ha) in the Ilocos, 5.8 to 7.7 t/ha in Cagayan Valley,
9.4 t/ha in Central Luzon, 9.4 t/ha in Region 9, 6.7 to 9.4 t/ha
in Region 11, 5.2 to 7 t/ha in Region 12, and 8.3 t/ha in Caraga
region.
Its yield was higher than another hybrid by 46 percent in the
Ilocos region and 43 percent in Iloilo where its yield was 44.4
percent higher than an inbred variety.
It was also 18-percent higher than another hybrid during the wet
season in Region 12, and eight percent higher during the dry
season. At the same time, it was higher than an inbred variety
by 36.9 percent during the wet season and 16.7 percent during
the dry season.
In Central Luzon, its yield was 4.9-percent higher than another
hybrid and 44.4-percent higher than an inbred variety.
Amazingly, the yield of BIO 401 was a little lower in replicated
trials in at least three experiment stations — an average of
5,987 kilograms a hectare (kg/ha). However, the average yield
was 6,708 kg/ha at the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) and
6,360 kg/ha at Bohol APC (Agricultural Productivity Center).
The average yield of BIO 401 was higher than PSB Rc28 by seven
percent at USM and 38.7 percent at Bohol APC.
When cooked, BIO 401 is white, slightly glossy, slightly
cohesive, slightly tender, slightly smooth, and has no aroma and
off-taste. In its raw form, the milled rice is creamish white,
dull, translucent, and brittle. The grains are long.
It has a milling recovery of 67.9 percent (grade 1) and a head
rice recovery of 43.6 percent (grade 2). Its protein content is
eight percent. |
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