Five new research and development (R&D) projects led by the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) were launched recently to support the banana, eggplant, sweetpotato, and onion industries.
Funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), through the Crops Research Division (CRD), these initiatives aim to enhance crops’ resistance to pests, increase yields, and promote sustainable farming practices.
The launch was held at the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB), College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS), UPLB.
Two projects focus on managing the ‘bugtok’ disease, a major threat to the Philippine banana industry, caused by the pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum. This disease makes banana fruits inedible and can result in up to 100% yield losses. To enhance its management strategies, the projects led by Mr. Cris Q. Cortaga and Mr. Jayvee S. Mendoza of IPB, CAFS-UPLB will map the pathogen’s genetic diversity and identify bugtok-resistant banana varieties,
Another project led by Mr. John Albert M. Caraan of IPB, CAFS-UPLB aims to improve eggplant through interdisciplinary strategies and innovative plant breeding techniques. This initiative will generate eggplant haploid and double-haploid lines to reduce the time required in the breeding process and enhance efficiency in developing superior eggplant varieties.
Meanwhile, the project spearheaded by Ms. Melissa P. Montecalvo of the National Crop Protection Center (NCPC), CAFS-UPLB will identify new fungicides and biological control agents to effectively manage onion anthracnose. Anthracnose is a major disease that infects both the onion leaves and bulbs, causing significant yield losses.
The project led by Dr. Karen B. Alviar of the Institute of Weed Science, Entomology, and Plant Pathology (IWEP), CAFS-UPLB will explore the efficacy of RNA Interference (RNAi) as a biopesticide for managing sweetpotato weevil. This initiative aims to develop an RNAi-based solution that targets and suppresses the pest, which can lead to improving crop yields while reducing reliance on harmful chemical pesticides.
The activity was attended by representatives from IPB, led by Director Fe M. Dela Cueva; NCPC; IWEP; UPLB Accounting Office; and DOST-PCAARRD, led by Deputy Executive Director for R&D Juanito T. Batalon, CRD Director Leilani D. Pelegrina, Industry Strategic S&T Program (ISP) Manager for Banana and Sweetpotato Fredric M. Odejar, ISP Manager for Vegetables Joel Norman R. Panganiban, and other key staff.