IRRI-GSR head gives talk at UPLB on breeding tolerant rice varieties

Jauhar Ali, senior scientist at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), made a presentation on Green Super Rice (GSR) at the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) Crop Science Cluster Special Seminar.  GSR includes rice varieties and hybrids that are adapted to difficult growing conditions such as drought. These varieties can thrive even with no pesticide and less fertilizer and can out-compete weeds, thus reducing the need for herbicides.

“We developed and bred 195 GSR cultivars at IRRI for testing,” said Dr. Ali who is also the project leader of IRRI-GSR Project.”  “We have released 12 GSR varieties and nominated into national trials 42 promising multiple abiotic and biotic stress-tolerant materials across Asia and Africa.”

Dr. Ali also presented the success of systematically breeding for nutrient use efficiency of rice and weed competitive rice varieties with help of UPLB students. “Success of deriving high genetic gains may be attributed to combination of effective selection skills, reduced breeding time and innovative genomics-assisted breeding approach” he said.

The Special Seminar was held on 7 May at the Nemesio Mendiola Hall, College of Agriculture, UPLB.


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