Three years after its implementation, the research and development (R&D) program on radiation-modified carrageenan (RMC) as plant-growth promoter (PGP) produced beneficial effects as shown in the program’s review and evaluation held recently.
The program, “Plant Bio-stimulants and Elicitors from Radiation-modified Natural Polymers,” aims to use RMC in integrated nutrition-management designs, improve plant health and induce resistance to increase crop productivity in peanut, mungbean and rice.
Dr. Lucille V. Abad of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) presented the accomplishments and key findings of the project in the report, titled “Evaluation of the Effects of Radiation-modified Carrageenan on the Growth and Yield of Mungbean and Peanut.”
Abad reported that field experiments in the regions of Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and in Calabarzon resulted in 16-percent to 51-percent increase in yield at RMC-PGP concentration of 50 parts per million (ppm) to 200 ppm.
Abad added that variation in the optimum concentration of RMC-PGP depend on the varieties of mungbean and peanut suited in the regions.
Leylani M. Juliano of the Philippine Rice Research Institute presented the second project, titled “Elucidation of Growth Promotion Mechanisms of Radiation-modified Carrageenan on Rice.”
The project aims to study the synergistic mechanism of RMC in its growth, promoting effects on rice under greenhouse and field conditions.
Juliano reported that the application of 300 ppm to 400 ppm RMC-PGP showed promising beneficial effects in rice, such as higher seed-germination rate, more tillers and panicles, and higher yield compared with other treatments.
Meanwhile, Dr. Gil L. Magsino, director of the National Crop Protection Center of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), presented the potential use of RMC-PGP to induce resistance against major pests and diseases in rice under greenhouse and field conditions.
Magsino noted that the application of RMC-PGP induces resistance against tungro virus in inbred rice and bacterial-leaf blight in hybrid rice under field conditions. He also cited that applying RMC-PGP could be an innovative approach to combat pests and diseases of rice, thereby improving crop productivity.
Dr. Jocelyn E. Eusebio, director of Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) Crop Research Division (CRD) led the terminal review and evaluation along with Dr. Pompe C. Sta. Cruz, director of the Institute of Plant Breeding of the College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS) at the UPLB and Dr. Erlinda S. Paterno, professor emeritus of the Agricultural Systems Institute of CAFS-UPLB.
The technical evaluators suggested the holding of a separate study on the role of RMC-PGP in enhancing the plants’ physiological processes.
The project, as suggested, is deemed to be a crucial parameter in explaining how RMC-PGP affects the growth, yield and resistance of selected agricultural crops.
The R&D Program on carrageenan is one of the programs under the PCAARRD Industry Strategic Science and Technology Program for Rice with the main goal of increasing rice productivity by 34 percent from 4.02 tons/hectare to 5.40 tons/hectare by 2020.
Held at the headquarters of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-PCAARRD, the program’s review and evaluation was attended by other DOST-PCAARRD staff from CRD, Applied Communication Division and Technology Transfer and Promotion Division. S&T Media Service