New rice varieties

By Sosimo Ma. Pablico

Farmers have again more rice varieties to choose from with the recent release of a hybrid and five inbred rice varieties by the NSIC [National Seed Industry Council] for commercial production.

These are:  NSIC Rc136H [Mestiso 7], NSIC Rc138 [Tubigan 5], NSIC Rc140 [Tubigan 6], NSIC Rc142 [Tubigan 7], NSIC Rc144 [Tubigan 8], and NSIC Rc146 [PJ7]. 

Mestizo 7, an early maturing variety, is a high yielding hybrid recommended for transplanting in irrigated lowlands.  Bred by IRRI scientists, it showed better yield performance during the wet season [6,827 kg/ha] than in the dry season [6,502 kg/ha].  Thus, it may very well be planted during the wet season.

NSIC Rc138, more popularly known as PJ25 or Tubigan 5, is the third variety bred and developed through a technical cooperation project of PhilRice and JICA [Japan International Cooperation Agency].  It is better suited to direct wet-seeded rice culture as it matures very early at 106 days after seeding and yields an average 5,487 kg/ha. 

The grains of PJ25 have good milling potential, physical attributes, and eating quality.  It also showed intermediate resistance to bacterial leaf blight, sheath blight, green leafhopper, and brown planthopper, as well as moderate resistance to stemborers. 

NSIC Rc140 or Tubigan 6, also bred by IRRI, matures in 110 days when transplanted and 104 days under direct wet-seeded culture.  It has high and stable yields in both wet and dry seasons – 5,486 kg/ha under transplanted culture and 5,495 kg/ha under direct wet-seeded culture.  Its yield, however, is slightly better during the wet season.  It has a wide spectrum of resistance to blast, rice tungro disease, sheath blight, stemborers, green leafhopper, and brown planthopper. 

Bred by PhilRice, NSIC Rc142 is the first variety developed through marker-aided breeding.  It is more adaptable under direct wet-seeded culture, but could also be used under transplanted culture. 

Under direct wet-seeded culture, its yield [5,616 kg/ha] was 12 percent higher than that of PSB Rc30 [5,011 kg/ha].  On the other hand, its yield under transplanted culture [5,574 kg/ha] was only 1.7 percent higher than that of PSB Rc30 [5,479 kg/ha].  It is early maturing – 105 days under direct wet-seeded culture and 112 days under transplanted culture.  In addition, it is very short – 85 cm [centimeters] under direct wet-seeded culture and 88 cm under transplanted culture. 

NSIC Rc142 has intermediate resistance to major pests of rice – bacterial leaf blight, sheath blight, stemborers, green leafhopper, and brown plant hopper – except blast and rice tungro disease.  Its grains have good milling quality and physical attributes, as well as low amy lose content and good eating quality.

NSIC Rc144 performs well under direct wet-seeded culture.  When direct wet seeded, its yield [5,467 kg/ha] is 8.8 percent higher than that of PSB Rc28 [5,025 kg/ha].  Very early maturing, it is ready for harvest in 103 days after seeding. It has intermediate resistance to blast, sheath blight and stem borers.

PJ7, also a product of PhilRice-JICA technical cooperation, is specifically adapted to favorable areas in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon, as well as to the saline-prone areas in Cagayan and low solar radiation areas in the Caraga Region and other rain fed areas. 

Very early maturing, it can be harvested at 104 days after seeding when direct wet-seeded and 110 days when transplanted.  It has good eating quality, as well as high milling and head rice recoveries.

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