12 new varieties okayed for commercial release

Twelve new varieties of seven crops have been approved for commercial release.

Given the green light by the National Seed Industry Council (NSIC) are three sweetpotato varieties; two each of tomato, cassava, and tobacco; and one of mungbean, potato, and taro (gabi).

The varieties were approved by NSIC after a series of yield trials conducted across test stations during the National Cooperating Testing (NCT) in the country over the past few years.

Of the sweetpotato varieties, two (NSIC Sp-28 and NSIC Sp-29) were developed by UP Los Baños (UPLB) and one (NSIC Sp-30) by the PhilRootcrops-Leyte State University (LSU) in Bayba, Leyte.

NSIC Sp-28 and NSIC Sp-29 mature in 120 days after planting and are adapted for growing in all regions of its higher flesh color.

NSIC Sp-30 performs well in flat and hilly conditions with adequate soil fertility and moisture. It has good eating quality, high dry matter, and starch.

The new tomato varieties are NSIC Tm-10 and NSIC Tm-11, both developed by the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Batac, Ilocos Norte.

Both are adapted to the wet season (WS) in northern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

NSIC Tm-10 yields an average of 27.72 tons per hectare during the WS and 33.95 t/ha during the dry season (DS). It matures in 92.7 days during the WS and 93.1 days during the DS. It is now grown extensively in farmers’ fields in Ilocos Norte.

NSIC Tm-11 yields an average of 28.88 t/ha and matures in 92.75 days during the WS. It turns out 45.88 t/ha and matures in 93.15 t/ha during the DS.

The new cassava varieties are NSIC Cv-27, developed by UPLB, and NSIC Cv-28, bred by PhilRootcrops-LSU.

NSIC Cv-27 matures in 10 months after planting and can be grown in all regions of the country. Moderately resistant to major cassava pests, its roots have major hydrocyanic acid (HCN) content, making it a safer feed ingredient (chips or pellets) than current recommended industrial varieties that are also utilized as feed.

NSIC Cv-28 matures in 10-12 months after planting. Resistant to pests and diseases, it can be grown in all regions of the country.

The new tobacco varieties are NSIC Tc 7 and NSIC Tc 8, both registered by Lancaster, Phils. Inc. in Agoo, La Union.

NSIC Tc 7 yields 27 harvestable leaves. Its nicotine content is 2.9 percent of lower leaf position and 3.044 percent of upper leaf position.

NSIC tc 8 turns out 23 harvestable leaves. Its nicotine content is 4.006 percent of the lower leaf position and 4.290 percent of upper leaf position.

The new mungbean variety, named NSIC Mg 14 or "kulabo", was developed by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry-Los Baños National Crop Research and Development Center (DA-BPI-LBN CRDC).

It yields 1.16 t/ha during the WS and 1.08 during the DS. It matures in 58 days during both seasons. It is the most preferred mungbean variety in Tarlac, Isabela, and Ilocos.

NSIC BSU P0-7, the new potato variety, was developed by PhilRootcrops-LSU. With good eating quality and high dry matter, it generally performs well in hilly conditions with fertile and moist soil.

The new gabi variety, NSIC G-9, was also developed by PhilRootcrops-SU. Particularly suited for lowland cultivation, it matures in eight months after planting. It can be grown in all regions of the country, producing high dry matter yield which is not obtained by other varieties under lowland cultivation. — Rudy A. Fernandez