Expert clears up misconceptions about Golden Rice
Margust Dela Cerna | August 19, 2024
Dr. Reynante Ordonio, a scientist at the Philippine Rice Research Institute, has clarified some public misconception about Golden Rice amid the Writ of Kalikasan ordered by the Court of Appeals to ban the production and commercialization of the GM crop in the country.
In his explanation, he said that Malusog 1 is the first genetically modified (GM) rice with beta-carotene (proVitamin A) approved and registered in the Philippines in 2021 and 2022.
Developed by the Golden Rice (GR) Project, a collaboration between the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), it aims to address vitamin A deficiency among children and pregnant or lactating women. Except for the GR2E transgene, Malusog 1 retains the genetic makeup of a popular local variety known for high yield and excellent grain quality. However, it faces biotic stresses, making resistance to pests and diseases essential for maintaining its yield.
Major rice diseases in the Philippines include tungro and bacterial leaf blight (BLB). Tungro, caused by the rice tungro spherical virus (RTSV) and rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV), results in severe stunting and yellowing of the rice plant, leading to 20% to 100% crop yield loss. BLB, caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), leads to lesions and potentially plant death, causing 74% to 81% yield loss in severe cases. Adding resistance to these diseases to GR varieties would help stabilize yields and increase adoption rates in disease-prone areas.
PhilRice has introduced disease resistance traits into Golden Rice and other local varieties through marker-assisted selection, resulting in advanced backcross inbred lines with combined traits. These lines, derived from four popular National Seed Industry Council (NSIC) varieties, have shown good grain quality, significant carotenoid levels, and resistance to RTSV, GLH, and BLB under screenhouse conditions.
In his explanation, he said that Malusog 1 is the first genetically modified (GM) rice with beta-carotene (proVitamin A) approved and registered in the Philippines in 2021 and 2022.
Developed by the Golden Rice (GR) Project, a collaboration between the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), it aims to address vitamin A deficiency among children and pregnant or lactating women. Except for the GR2E transgene, Malusog 1 retains the genetic makeup of a popular local variety known for high yield and excellent grain quality. However, it faces biotic stresses, making resistance to pests and diseases essential for maintaining its yield.
Major rice diseases in the Philippines include tungro and bacterial leaf blight (BLB). Tungro, caused by the rice tungro spherical virus (RTSV) and rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV), results in severe stunting and yellowing of the rice plant, leading to 20% to 100% crop yield loss. BLB, caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), leads to lesions and potentially plant death, causing 74% to 81% yield loss in severe cases. Adding resistance to these diseases to GR varieties would help stabilize yields and increase adoption rates in disease-prone areas.
PhilRice has introduced disease resistance traits into Golden Rice and other local varieties through marker-assisted selection, resulting in advanced backcross inbred lines with combined traits. These lines, derived from four popular National Seed Industry Council (NSIC) varieties, have shown good grain quality, significant carotenoid levels, and resistance to RTSV, GLH, and BLB under screenhouse conditions.
