2 new hybrid rice varieties bred

Two new hybrid rice varieties have been developed.

Named NSIG Rc114h and NSIG Rc116H, NSIG stands for National Seed Industry Council.

The varieties were bred by scientists of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Rice Varietal Improvement Group (RVIG) of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).

NSIG Rc114h and NSIG Rc116H have been programmed to be commercially produced next year, PhilRice Executive Director Leocadio S. Sebastian reported at the recent board meeting of the institute presided by chairman Luis Lorenzo Jr., newly appointed agriculture secretary.

Both varieties have been tested in eight locations in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao during the dry and wet seasons in 2000 and 2001, reported Rodante Tabien, chairman of the PhilRice Technical Working Group.

In replicated trials, NSIG Rc114H yielded 5.849 tons per hectare during the dry season and 5.734 t/ha during the west season. Maximum yield was 8.654 t/ha.

NSIG Rcll4H matured in 106 days during the dry season and 105 days during the west season. It had 13 and 14 productive tillers during the dry and wet seasons, respectively.

Among other things, NSIC Rc114H has intermediate reaction to blast and bacterial leaf blight, moderately resistant to stemborer, and is acceptable in cooked and raw forms.

NSIGRc116H yielded 5.847 t/ha during the dry season and 5.715 t/ha during the wet season. Its maximum yield was 8.628 t/ha.

It matured in 105 days during the dry season and 106 days during the wet season. It had 12 and 13 productive tillers during the dry and wet and seasons, respectively. – Rudy A. Fernandez