In a back to back activity held on October 7–8, PCAARRD conducted a program review on coffee, plant genetic resources (PGR), and vegetables at the Council’s Headquarters.
The first day of activity was attended by 43 researchers, experts, and PCAARRD staff.
Dr. Patricio S. Faylon, PCAARRD Executive Director, emphasized in his opening message the importance of each project in the industry. He encouraged the participants to deliver the expected targets and assured them of the full technical and financial assistance of PCAARRD.
Coffee Production and Processing
The first R&D program reviewed under the Industry Strategic S&T Plan (ISP) for Coffee is titled “Creating Growth in the Countryside through Development and Appropriate Technologies on Coffee Production and Processing.”
The program has four project components aiming to enhance the micropropagation techniques for quality planting materials, conserve and manage coffee genetic resources in the country, improve farm productivity through remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS), and standardize the evaluation of Philippine specialty coffee quality.
The Cavite State University (CvSU), in collaboration with the Benguet State University (BSU), Central Philippines State University (CPSU) and Central Mindanao University (CMU), leads the implementation of the P45-million coffee program.
Now in its second year, the program on coffee reports some of its most significant outputs as presented during the program review. These are the optimized protocol on callus induction phase, 150,000 mass propagated seedlings, 6 ha field genebank established at CvSU, and characterization of Coffea arabica accessions from Benguet and all existing collection of C. liberica at CvSU.
The research team also reported the production of the initial suitability maps for C. arabica and C. liberica in Cavite and Bukidnon and having set in place the preliminary activities in establishing cup profiles of Philippine Arabica and Liberica species.
Vegetable production
Another program reviewed is the National Research and Development Program for Vegetables (NRDPV) led by the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). The project is implemented in collaboration with the Bureau of Plant Industry-Los Baños National Crop Research and Development Center (BPI-LBNCRDC), Department of Agriculture-Technology Generation (DA-TECHGEN), Misamis Oriental State College of Agriculture and Technology (MOSCAT), Visayas State University (VSU), and BSU.
NRDPV focuses on the “pinakbet” and “chopsuey” vegetables in the field of varietal selection and seed production, grafting technology, insect pest and disease control, and appropriate postharvest technologies.
Among the significant outputs presented are the identification of best grafting techniques for Solanaceous and Cucurbits in terms of field survival, seed distribution of pole sitao selections for farm trial in Regions 4-A and 10, mass production of several biological control agents (BCAs) against pests and diseases of highland vegetables, and the evaluation of edible coatings or dipping/washing solutions for vegetables.
Also under NRDPV is the newly completed project titled “Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS) Coatings to Enhance Shelf life of Vegetables.” Among the GRAS coatings tested for bitter gourd, eggplant, pole sitao, and tomato, the hagimit (Ficus minahassae (Teysm. And de Vriese) Miq.) extract showed the best effect on enhancing the vegetables’ shelf life.
The newly approved project on identification and transmission studies on major diseases of vegetables in Eastern Visayas was also presented. There is no significant results reported just yet but field surveys of vegetable areas in Samar and Leyte have already started.
Tomato and squash production technologies
Two projects on genomics and biotechnology which are expected to be useful in breeding for improved tomato and squash varieties.were presented by UPLB experts.
The first project is called “Targeting Induced Local Lesion in Genome (TILLING) of Tomato for Multiple Virus Resistance.” The project aims to develop DNA markers tagging candidate gene sequences for tomato virus resistance against tomato leaf curl virus (ToLCV) and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV).
The second project, on the other hand, aims to develop virus-resistant varieties and populations of squash. The research team reported that 60 breeding lines are currently being screened against papaya ringspot virus type W (PRSV-W), squash leaf curl virus (SLCV), and zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) under greenhouse and field conditions.
Improving postharvest handling practices
Researchers from the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) also presented the accomplishments of the program titled “Development of Packaging Technology for Agricultural Fresh Produce.” Its main objective is to improve postharvest handling practices for fruits and vegetables through modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and transport packaging technologies.
In cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the research team was able to develop transport packaging for durian, pineapple and sweetpotato. Several field trials and performance evaluation have been conducted with positive results. It was reported that there are already interested takers of the technology.
The projects on vegetables are part of PCAARRD’s effort to reach the ISP for Vegetables target by 2020.
Plant genetic resources program (PGR)
The program on PGR which aims to restore crop diversity at the national germplasm repository was also reviewed. The activities of the program mainly include collection, regeneration and conservation, characterization and evaluation, and assessment of genetic diversity and sustainable utilization of genetic resources on vegetables, food legumes, cereals, feeds and industrial crops, fruits, and nuts.
The research team revealed that the national germplasm collection at the National Plant Genetic Resources Laboratory (NPGRL) of the Institute of Plant Breeding, UPLB has significantly increased, re-established and maintained the field genebank through the program.
Moreover, the PGR program aims to develop in-vitro conservation strategies and apply in-vitro techniques for drought tolerance evaluation in rootcrops and Musa germplasm. It also aims to raise awareness on PGR through information drives and database development, among other objectives.
Dr. Faylon, acknowledging the importance of the PGR program to sustainable agriculture and food security, challenged the team members to maintain the germplasm repository even after the program ended. This was seconded by the technical evaluators chaired by Dr. Liwayway M. Engle and Dr. Calixto M. Protacio.
The technical review panel was composed of Dr. Vivicencio R. Mamaril, Dr. Edralina P. Serrano, Mr. Elmer E. Enicola, Mr. Arsenio G. Barcelona, and Dr. Jocelyn E. Eusebio.