FOLLOWING its implementation after three years, the research and development (R&D) program dubbed “Plant Bio-stimulants and Elicitors from Radiation-modified Natural Polymers” produced beneficial effects based on its recent review and evaluation.

The program aims to use radiation-modified carrageenan (RMC) as a plant growth promoter (PGP) in integrated nutrition management designs, improve plant health, and induce resistance to increase crop productivity of peanut, mungbean, and rice.

Dr. Lucille V. Abad of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute of DOST (PNRI-DOST) presented the accomplishments and key findings of the project titled “Evaluation of the Effects of Radiation-modified carrageenan on the Growth and Yield of mungbean and peanut.”

It was reported that field experiments conducted in Regions 2, 3, and 4A resulted in about 16 to 51 percent increase in yield at RMC-PGP concentration of 50-200 parts per million (ppm).

Variation in the optimum concentration of RMC-PGP depends on the varieties of mungbean and peanut that is suited for the said regions.

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) presented the second project titled “Elucidation of Growth Promotion Mechanisms of Radiation-modified Carrageenan on Rice.”

It aims to study the synergistic mechanism of RMC in its growth promoting effects on rice under greenhouse and field conditions.

The application of 300-400 ppm RMC-PGP has showed promising beneficial effects in rice, such as higher seed germination rate, more tillers and panicles, and higher yield compared with other treatments.

Dr. Gil L. Magsino, director of the National Crop Protection Center (NCPC) of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), also presented the potential use of RMC-PGP to induce resistance against major pests and diseases of rice under greenhouse and field conditions.

The application of RMC-PGP induces resistance against Tungro virus in inbred rice and bacterial leaf blight in hybrid rice under field conditions.

Applying RMC-PGP can be an innovative approach to combat pests and diseases of rice, thereby improving crop productivity.

Dr. Jocelyn E. Eusebio, director of the 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 at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (IPB, CAFS-UPLB) and Dr. Erlinda S. Paterno, Professor Emeritus of the Agricultural Systems Institute of CAFS-UPLB.

The technical evaluators, for their part, suggested a separate study on the role of RMC-PGP in enhancing 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 ISP for Rice with the main goal of increasing rice productivity by 34 percent from 4.02-5.40 tons/hectare by 2020.

Held at the headquarters of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), the program’s review and evaluation was attended by other PCAARRD staff from CRD, Applied Communication Division, and Technology Transfer and Promotion Division. (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it./PN)