MANILA- A study by PhilRice identified two climate change-resilient varieties suitable for irrigated lowlands in the Visayas and Mindanao.
“Location-specific irrigated rice varieties resilient to climate change,” a study by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), identified NSIC Rc308 (Tubigan 26) and NSIC Rc358 (Tubigan 30) as climate change-resilient rice varieties with superior performance in irrigated lowland ecosystems.
Thelma Padolina, the lead researcher, said that varieties with superior location-specific performance and improved resistance to lodging and biotic stresses must be bred and recommended to help the farmers adapt to climate change.
“The two recommended varieties have relatively high yield advantage over their check varieties. The NSIC Rc308 has a yield advantage of 5.5% in the Visayas and 4.0% in Mindanao in contrast with PSB Rc82. NSIC Rc358 outyielded PSB Rc18 by 12%,” Padolina said.
NSIC Rc308 and the NSIC Rc358 are 2013 PhilRice-bred varieties. Under favorable irrigated lowland ecosystems, NSIC Rc308 has a maximum average yield of 10.9 t/ha and matures in 11 days if transplanted. When direct-seeded, it matures in 105 days and has a maximum yield of 8.0 t/ha. Under the same farming condition, NSIC Rc358 can also attain a maximum average yield of 5.4 t/ha to 9.1 t/ha if transplanted.
Both varieties are early-maturing, hence, they can escape stress conditions. NSIC Rc308 showed superior performance in Zamboanga del Sur, Davao del Sur, Sultan Kudarat, Eastern Samar, and Aklan. According to Padolina, the variety has an intermediate reaction to pests such as stemborer, brown planthopper, and bacterial leaf light.
NSIC Rc358 is considered an all-season variety for Visayas, making it suitable for the transplanting culture in the provinces of Samar, Aklan, and Bohol.
According to Padolina, the development of location-specific, high-yielding, and climate change-resilient varieties are cost-effective strategies to increase rice yields./Department of Agriculture
