DAVAO CITY ― A review of PCAARRD- and Department of Science and Technology-funded programs on abaca, coconut, and rubber was recently conducted at the Philippine Coconut Authority-Davao Research Center (PCA-DRC) here.
First to present was Dr. Antonio G. Lalusin, a project leader from the University of the Philippines Los Baños. He updated the participants on the activities conducted to rehabilitate abaca plantation through the adoption of high-yielding and virus-resistant abaca hybrids.
The second project focused on the shelf-life and commercial production of polyclonal antibody for the abaca bunchy top virus (ABTV). This was presented by Dr. Edgardo E. Tulin of the Visayas State University (VSU). He reported that the team is already in the process of optimizing the dipstick for ABTV antisera. The dipstick will be used for easier detection, monitoring, and surveillance of ABTV in the field.
Another project on abaca analyzes the multi-locational performance of promising ABTV-resistant genotypes in Regions 5, 8, and 11. Six experimental sites are now being monitored by the team led by Dr. Lelita R. Gonzal of VSU.
Initial results showed that among 14 genotypes, seven exhibited resistance to ABTV infection. Also, the team found that there could be different strains of ABTV in Mindanao and Leyte. Other viral diseases such as abaca mosaic virus and abaca bract mosaic virus are also being observed.
Dr. Emma K. Sales of the University of Southern Mindanao, on the other hand, discussed the updates on the newly implemented rubber project. Sales and her team did an inventory of existing rubber plantations and nurseries with high-yielding clones in Zamboanga Peninsula and North Cotabato. They were also able to identify 27 clones planted in the said areas and collect leaf samples for Simple Sequence Repeat analysis.
The project aims to validate the varietal integrity of promising rubber clones in commercial nurseries through DNA fingerprinting. Superior clones are currently being sold in nurseries but there are doubts among the buyers on the authenticity of the variety labels. Hence, fingerprinting will be done to ensure the reliability of these sources.
In focus: Coconut
For coconut, projects under the Integrated Coconut Research and Development Enhancement Program (ICREDEP) were presented. In one project, the superiority of local hybrids among various varieties tested for toddy, sap sugar, and virgin oil production was highlighted. The isolation protocol for the production of novel products from makapuno such as Mak gum, Mak VCO, and Mak protein was also optimized.
In another project, the team reported the establishment of 35 characterization sites for coconut genetic resources (CGR) in Bicol, Quezon, and Eastern Samar. These areas are also being assessed to determine their potential to carry out and sustain in situ conservation of CGR diversity. More sites will be established and characterized next year.
Also, preliminary findings in selected coconut ecosystems analyzing the carbon levels of soil organic matter (SOM) showed the interrelationship of SOM to farm productivity and climate change impacts. The study generally aims to provide information in precision agriculture by highlighting the carbon level and soil fertility in selected coconut ecosystems. The team showed the database as well as the spatial maps of soil carbon levels and other soil properties in tested sites.
The status of infestation of the coconut leaf beetle, Brontispa longissima (Gestro), and the initiatives being done by the government to control the pest was also reported.
Brontispa has been affecting 4.9 million trees in 639 municipalities as of March this year. Despite the massive infestation, its rate of spread is steadily declining. The project team attributes this to the government’s aggressive information drive and promotion of integrated pest management, among other initiatives.
ICREDEP was also credited for the empowerment of five established community-based organizations through introduction and adoption of community-managed nurseries, livestock integration, and production of coconut-based high value products in Oriental Mindoro and Albay.
Another initiative is the development program for coco sugar in Davao which includes a community-based project on improving coco sap production and safe primary processing, certification, packaging enhancement and promotion of coco sugar, and improving coconut farm productivity through organic farming. A series of trainings was conducted to encourage the farmers to adopt the recommended package of technology and promote entrepreneurship.
Updates on the infestation of coconut scale insect and the status of the S&T-based control strategies were also presented to the group. The project team reported that the pest outbreak is now infesting about one million coconut trees in Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, and Cavite.
To address this concern, control measures are currently being tested while a more sustainable and eco-friendly pest management measures are being evaluated.