'New rice varieties with value added traits'

Breeding institutions like PhilRice, IRRI and UPLB nominate their best rice lines in the ecosystem-based and multi-location National Cooperative Test (NCT) trials to identify the best adapted and potential rice varieties in the country. In 2008, under the special purpose category, two IRRI-based lines IR68333-R-R-B-22(J) and IR68144-2B-2-2-3-2 were approved for general cultivation as NSIC. Rc170SP(MS11) and NSIC Rc172SP(MS13) by the National Seed Industry Council (NSIC) through the Rice Technical Working Group (RTWG) and the Technical Secretariat. Agronomic performance tests were done in three sites: Laguna, Nueva Ecija, and Ilocos Norte for 3 consecutive seasons in 2001 to 2002. From 2002 onwards, iron content analysis, adaptation to problem soils and bioavailability trials were done by the IRRI and UPLB groups. NSIC Rc170 SP (MS 11) is a japonica variety for tropical conditions, early maturing with yield of at least 4 t/ha, with intermediate resistance to blast, bacterial leaf blight and tungro virus (RTV). It has very good milling potential and excellent grain quality comparable to the eating quality of temperate japonicas. MS 11 can fill-up the requirement of imported japonica rice to urban requirements catering to foreigners and urban elites with high preference to japonica. NSIC Rc172 SP (MS 13) is an iron dense rice with an Fe content of 13-21 mg/kg brown rice. It is early maturing with excellent seedling vigor and wide spectrum of resistance to RTV, blast, sheath blight, brown plant hopper biotypes 2 and 3, and yellow stem borer. It can also be grown in zinc and iron deficient soils. It possesses good grain qualities with premium head rice recovery and slight aroma. MS 13 can be made available even to rural and highly depressed areas with pronounced malnutrition problems especially iron deficiency. These are two novel genetic resource for breeding new germplasm with high market and nutritive value.