From genes to farmers’ fields: waterproof rice set to make waves in South Asia

Delhi, India – “Waterproof” versions of popular varieties of rice, which can withstand 2 weeks of complete submergence, have passed tests in farmers’ fields with flying colors. Several of these varieties are now close to official release by national and state seed certification agencies in Bangladesh and India, where farmers suffer major crop losses because of flooding of up to 4 million tons of rice per year. This is enough rice to feed 30 million people.

The flood-tolerant versions of the “mega varieties”—high-yielding varieties popular with both farmers and consumers that are grown over huge areas across Asia—are effectively identical to their susceptible counterparts but recover after severe flooding to yield well.

An early November tour of research stations and farms in Bangladesh and India led by David Mackill, IRRI senior rice breeder, marked the successful completion of a project, From genes to farmers’ fields: enhancing and stabilizing productivity of rice in submergence-prone environments, funded for the past 5 years by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The tour culminated with a 1-day wrap-up workshop at the Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) in Cuttack, India, 7 November (photo above).

The new varieties were made possible following the identification of a single gene that is responsible for most of the submergence tolerance. Thirteen years ago, Dr. Mackill, then at the University of California (UC) at Davis, and Kenong Xu, his graduate student, pinpointed the gene in a low-yielding traditional Indian rice variety known to withstand flooding. Xu subsequently worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Pamela Ronald, a UC Davis professor (in photo below inspecting a flood-tolerant variety on the Rangpur station of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute), and they isolated the specific gene—called Sub1A—and demonstrated that it confers tolerance to normally intolerant rice plants. Dr. Ronald’s team showed that the gene is switched on when the plants are submerged.

A geneticist from UC Riverside, Julia Bailey-Serres, is leading the work to determine exactly how Sub1A confers flood tolerance. “Sub1A effectively makes the plant dormant during submergence, allowing it to conserve energy until the floodwaters recede,” she said.

Typically, rice plants will extend the length of their leaves and stem in an attempt to escape submergence. The Sub1A gene is an evolutionarily new gene in rice found in only a small proportion of the rice varieties originating from eastern India and Sri Lanka. The activation of this gene under submergence counteracts the escape strategy. continued

See Photos and Videos of the Week further below in the right-hand column for additional background on this work. Click here  and here to access a seven-part report on Pamela Ronald's blog, Tomorrow's Table. Click here for more info on Sub1 on the IRRI Web site.
 

India-Africa conference tackles sustainable food security

The India-Africa Conference on Cooperation for Sustainable Food Security, jointly organized by the Government of India, the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), and the Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative (IFFCO), was held on 10-12 November at the NASC Complex, Pusa, New Delhi.

The participants included ministers, policymakers, farmers, scientists, and private-sector representatives from India and selected African countries. To mark the occasion, an exhibit highlighted developments in Indian agriculture, focusing on India-Africa collaborative efforts in the food sector. The IRRI-India office put up a booth showcasing IRRI-Africa collaboration in the fight against hunger and poverty.

The IRRI exhibit showed the involvement of IRRI in Africa since the 1970s and its collaboration with the Africa Rice Center (WARDA), national agricultural research and extension systems of East and Southern Africa (ESA), and the Instituto de Investigação Agrícola de Moçambique (IIAM) to help farmers in the region grow new rice varieties, learn modern production techniques, and address productivity constraints. Collaboration between IRRI and WARDA in the ESA region focused on rice breeding, varietal release, seed production systems; crop production and postharvest practices; rice value chain and agricultural policy; and rice production improvement at the village level.

IRRI’s program on Africa involves the introduction and evaluation of improved rice varieties from IRRI, WARDA, and other research centers in Africa; and the country-specific evaluation and release of new varieties for local producers in Ethiopia. A new initiative led by IRRI and WARDA aims to develop climate-hardy rice tailored to several rice-producing countries on the continent.

Conference participants identified high-priority collaborative activities to further strengthen India-Africa partnership with IRRI assistance. They likewise discussed issues related to rice cultivation in India. Various resource-conserving technologies for rice and wheat developed by the Rice-Wheat Consortium were also demonstrated.

For more details, contact Dr. Sheetal Sharma in the IRRI-India Office.
 

Researchers learn about writing better scientific papers

Nineteen IRRI staff members and scholars participated in the Scientific Writing Workshop held last 11-14 November at the Activity Room, Swaminathan Hall, Training Center. CPS editor Tess Rola handled the course, with assistance from Maria Angeli Maghuyop, TC training specialist.

The 4-day workshop aimed to help scientists and researchers develop skills in written communication and make them more effective in sharing their research results. Furthermore, participants learned about the process of organizing and writing a scientific paper and having these published in international journals.

This course highlighted the fact that the responsibility of a scientist does not end after the completion of laboratory and field investigations. Results must be properly conveyed to the scientific community, donor organizations, policymakers, and potential users. Only then can the scientist claim to have made a real contribution to the existing body of scientific knowledge. The information, if communicated well, would capture the reader’s interest and has a greater chance of reaching its audience. Scientists must have the relevant skills that enable them to make effective written presentations that communicate information clearly and concisely.

The methods used in the workshop were lectures, discussions, and practice exercises. One major output of the workshop was a working draft of the scientific paper that each participant is currently working on.
 

Management memos

DG memo on IFEA Elections
18 November 2008

We are pleased to announce that the IRRI Filipino Employees Association (IFEA) has scheduled the election of its Board of Representatives for 26 November 2008. The election shall be conducted from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at Sallimels Canteen. IFEA has created an Election Committee, comprising the following individuals, to oversee the election process: Ramon Oliveros (chair) and members Carlos Huelma, Zenaida Pascual, Priscilla Comia, and Melencio Lalap

This Election Committee will post and e-mail announcements pertaining to the 2008 IFEA election in the coming days. The IRRI management team fully supports this important activity, and all IRRI Los Baños–based nationally recruited staff are encouraged to participate in the election. All OU heads are requested to provide employees with the opportunity to proceed to the polling place and cast their vote.

Thank you.

Robert Zeigler

Office of the DDG-R

IRRI FC kicks grass at the Alaska Cup 2008

The IRRI Football Club (IRRI FC) joined the 13th Alaska Football Cup, last Sunday 16 November) at the Alabang Country Club Football Field, Ayala Alabang. Various schools and football clubs from all over the Philippines participated in the country’s largest and most prestigious annual football tournament.

The ladies' team (in photo with the men) was composed of IRRI staff Ranee Mabesa, Reena Sellamuthu, Mary Burac, Sarah Beebout (CESD), Darlene Sanchez, Sheryl Sierra, Rona Andam (PBGB), Mae Merluza (GRC), Clerisse Ramos (RMQA), and reinforcements Mutya Aller, Dens Detera and Mildred Mejino.

The ladies were grouped with Los Borrachos, Alabang Grins, Pampanga Agricultural College FC, Brent IS – Subic, and Makati FC in the Ladies' Open Division.

The Alabang Grins eventually won the group stage and moved on to the advanced stages of the competition. Mutya Aller, Mae Merluza, and Sarah Beebout (shown defending in photo right) contributed one goal each in their campaign.

The men's team (in photo with the women) was composed of Kofi Bimpong, Reza Mohammadi (PBGB), Tanguy Lafarge, Mervin Manalili (CESD), Anthony Telosa (GRC) and Kenneth Ortiz (Lazaga). Enrico Mercado (formerly from PBGB), Jojo Telosa (brother of Anthony), Bayani Vandenbroek, Joey and Alvin (from Canlubang) completed the lineup.

IRRI FC, Pampanga Agricultural College FC, Kaya FC, San Jose del Monte FC Xavier Alumni FC completed bracket C of the Men's Open Division.

The men's team managed to sneak in one win before bowing out of the group stage. Tanguy Lafarge (photo left) and Bayani Vandebroek both scored goals for the team.

The backup forces and friends who came to cheer the team were Sheila Quilloy (GRC), Vivay Salazar (CRIL), EJ Azucena (ISAAA), Jelo Magat (FOP), Bill Sta. Clara (CPS), Boggs Panaligan (formerly from CPS), and Ems Caceres. Lorraine Cappleman (PBGB) was the overall coordinator for both teams. Transportation was provided by CERS.