Rice research in good hands as young IRRI scientists come together

 OLD NEWS

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Rice research in good hands as young IRRI scientists come together

IRRI's young scientists, as well as their more experienced colleagues, have come together for the 2012 IRRI Young Scientists Conference (IYSC) to share their work and insights on rice research, 8-9 November 2012 at IRRI Headquarters in Los Baños.

The conference is driven with the theme, Sustaining excellence in rice research, which hints of the current status of research in agriculture in general and rice in particular.


IRRI Director General Robert Zeigler expressed enthusiasm for the event, saying that IRRI's future rests a lot on this new generation of scientists.

"Without a crop of vibrant, intelligent, dedicated, and caring young scientists, IRRI would not have a future," Dr. Zeigler said in the foreword of the 2012 IYSC abstract book. "Armed with knowledge gained at IRRI, the unique experience they get here, and valuable professional relationships they foster, our current batch of young scientists, I believe, will continue this legacy of contributing to a better world through rice science."

Likewise, Achim Dobermann, IRRI's head of research, said that IRRI needs to anticipate needs in the value chain decades from now. "Young scientists must play a leading role in such efforts and thus help shape a new image for modern agriculture," Dr. Dobermann said.

Presentations of abstracts will cover these areas of rice science: crop improvement, crop protection, extension, marketing and policies, environment and sustainability, genetics and genomics, and innovations and novel approaches.

The conference will also celebrate 50 years of scholarship and training at IRRI. An exhibit for this celebration is located at the breezeway in Harrar Hall, IRRI.


Learn more about IRRI (www.irri.org) or follow us on the social media and networks (all links down the right column).

First young rice scientists' meet a success

 OLD NEWS

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

First young rice scientists' meet a success

Photos | Video

The first IRRI Young Scientists Conference (IYSC), themed Sustaining excellence in rice research, was successfully held at IRRI Headquarters on 8-9 November 2012, with more than 300 IRRI staff and researchers from other countries (Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, India, Iran, and Tanzania) attending.

The event opened with encouraging messages from Robert Zeigler, IRRI director general; Achim Dobermann, head of IRRI's research; and Govinda Rizal, president of the Association of Fellows, Scholars, Trainees, and Residents of IRRI (AFSTRI), which organized the conference. IRRI's leaders expressed anticipation of the initiative's continuation in the coming years.

IYSC 2012 aimed to provide a venue for budding scientists to share their research with a wider audience and across different disciplines. The 2-day program included more than 80 presentations and 6 best research presentations that showcased just how complex and diverse the field of rice science is.

The program also included a panel discussion about the theme and about how IRRI can further pursue excellence as an institution, more than as individual scientists. Panelists were in agreement that all sectors of IRRI (management, transport, security, research, purchasing, communication, information, data management, and others) are all linked and should pursue excellence together.

An exhibit and a ceremonial tree-planting activity were also held to mark the golden jubilee of the arrival of the first batch of scholars and trainees at IRRI.

Reynaldo Lantin, one of the first IRRI scholars and an AFSTRI alumnus, also addressed the gathering.

Dr. Zeigler introduced the Secretary of Agriculture of India, Hon. Shri Ashish Bahuguna, who expressed appreciation for the initiative. Secretary Bahuguna was in IRRI for a visit.

The IYSC 2012 organizing team was composed of Changrong Ye, Dr. Rizal, Jedeliza Ferrater, Rico Gamuyao, Shanta Karki, and Teodora Cabasan.



Learn more about IRRI (www.irri.org) or follow us on the social media and networks (all links down the right column).

RICE QUIZ - 1

1. What is the botanical name of Asian rice?

2. Which of the following region is not suitable for rice cultivation?

 a) Antarctica

b) Madagascar

c) Himalayas

d) Tropical rainforest

3. In which of these countries rice is the staple food?

a) Canada

b) China

c) Italy

4. How much of people's daily energy needs are met by rice in the developing world?

a) 27%

b) 10%

c) 50%

d) 100%

5. How much water is needed to grow a kilogram of rice?

a) 10 litres

b) 2000 litres

c) 10,000 litres

6. How long does a rice plant take to mature (on average)?
a) 3 to 6 hours

b) 3 to 6 weeks

c) 3 to 6 months

d) 3 to 6 years

7. How much rice does an average person in Myanmar eat each day?

a) Half gram

b) Half-kilogram

c) Half quintal

d) Half tonne

8. Which country exported the highest quantity of rice in 2015?

a) Thailand

b) Vietnam

c) USA

d) Philippines

9. How many varieties of rice are known?

a) 2300

b) 20000

c) 140000

10. HOW MANY SPECIES OF RICE ARE KNOWN?



11. In which country was rice first domesticated?



12. Which is the primary region of the origin of rice?

a) Indo china

b) WestAfrica

c) Mediterrnean




13. African Rice (Oryza glaberrima) originated in Inland delta of Upper Niger river. Which African country is located there today?

14. Which is the wild ancestor of the African rice (Oryza glaberrima)?

15. AfricaRice Center developed a high yielding rice by crossing Asian Oryza glaberrima and Oryza sativa aand the the hybrid is named as New Rice for Africa. What is this “New Rice for Africa” popularly known as?

16. Which of the following is not true about the NERICA rice?

a) Produce up to 400 grains per head

b) Contains 2 % more protein than its parental lines

c) Easy to harvest

d) Tolerant to submergence

17. Who was recognized with 2004 World Food Prize for his leadership in developing NERICA?

18. What is the ancient rice (Oryza brevilugata) called these days?

19. Who was the first Portuguese chronicler to mention rice growing in the Upper Guinea Coast in 1446?

20. What is the position of rice in worldwide production?

PUZZLE

1. Why is rice cold?

Email me the answers  

Farewell to Wallace Daniels and Dr. Eero Nissila

Both  Mr Wallace Daniels and Dr. Eero Nissila stayed in the Institute for a short time and left behind strong footprints.

Mr Wallace Daniels 

Dr. Eero Nissila

Global Information System on PGRFA

Published on Oct 9, 2015

The Global Information System on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture will make the search for deeper information on diverse data sets easier for the global community by creating a new global public good in the form of a digitized data pool on food plants. Since 2007 the seed treaty (ITPGRFA) has facilitated the pooling and exchange of crucial genetic material of the world’s most important food crops, supporting their collective management and encouraging their use – and maintaining the pooled material as a public good under the management of the global community. The new System will also make available key information that add value to the genetic resources for farmers, breeders, the seed sector and the scientific community.

Click on the icon

Watch VIDEO

COURTESY 

IRRI at Young Rice Scientists Tutugunan ang kahirapan at Gutom sa Bansa

By Raffy Rico | Saturday, January 31, 2015 - 12:40 pm

Ang International Rice Research Institute (IRRI ) sa Los Banos Laguna ay dinagsa ng mga “Young Rice Scientist’s” mula iba’t ibang lahi sa mundo kamakailan (Enero 27, 2015), Layunin nito na mapaunlad ang ating pag-aangkat ng bigas sa buong mundo. Para na rin sa kinabukasan ng mga susunod na henerasyon.
Pag dating ng grupo ng mga mamamahayag (after lunch), sinimulan ang programa, kasunod nito ang “GroudBreaking ceremony” ng Lloyd T. Evans plant Growth Facility.
Sa Pagsisimula ng Programa, ito ay pinangunahan nina Grant Singkleton at Janelle Jung. Ang nakapaloob sa nasabing Programa ay tinalakay ng mga bisita buhat sa ibat-ibang bansa:

• Post-harvest losses by Rodents ( Scientist Nyo Me Htwe )
• Induced mutations alter 0 13C values in C4 plants ( Scientist Govinda Rizal )
• Supporting women alter in rice farming: Where can we contribute ( Scientist Pieter Rutsaert )
• Testing C4 gene promoters ( Scientist Shanta Karki )
• How learning alliance or adaptive management approach affects innovation ( Scientist Rica Joy Flor )
• Increasing rice yield through pyramiding high value genes ( Scientist Ramkumar Gandhimari )
• Targeted genome editing through CRISPR/Cas9 technology ( Scientist Akshaya K Biswal )
• Enhancing rice straw management to mitigate environmental footprint ( Scientist Nguyen Van Hung )
• Why getting muddy matters: Lessons learned from getting young scientists out of the lab and into the field. ( Scientist Janelle Jung )
• SNP marker development for rice breeding ( Scientist Maria S Dwiyante )
• Population structure in 3000 rice genomes ( Scientist Dmitri Chebotarev )
• Mutagenesis for discovery of genes affecting the leaf vein density in a model C4 monocot ( Scientist Vivek Thakur )
• Understanding adaptation of rice across varying environments: Traits, trait interactions and QTLs ( Scientist Shalabh Dixit )
• Night inspiration and sink activity reveals high night temperature induced yield and quality loss and rice. ( Scientist Rajeev Nayan Bahuguna )
• Effect of land configuration on water productivity and crop performance in rice-based cropping system. ( Scientist Krisha Devkota )
• Biotect + breeding = healthier rice varieties ( Scientist Jessica Rey )
• Setaria photosynthetic mutant screen using Plant Screen Phenotyping System ( Scientist Jolly Chatterjee )
• C4 gene stacking ( Scientist HsiangChun Lin )

Nagkaisa ang mga Kabataang Scientists at mga miyembro ng International Rice Research Institute (IRRI ), na tugunan na mabawasan ang kahirapan at gutom sa Bansa. Sa pamamagitan nang malawakang produksiyon ng Bigas at kapaki-pakinabang sa kalikasan.

Ayon sa IRRI, ang mga magsasaka umano ang unang makikinabang sa mga makabagong teknik sa produksiyon ng bigas, na maging kuwalipikado ito sa merkado, at may siguridad na maiingatan ang kalusugan sa kung sinuman ang makakakain nito.

Sapagkat malaki ang suporta ng mga tumutulong na malalaking Bansa, Publiko at Pribadong Sektor na mapalago pa ang mga pasilidad ng pagsasanayan ng mgaScientist’s. Kung pagbabasihan sa pangangailangan ng bigas sa buong mundo, ito ay umabot na sa walo-hanggang sampung milyon tonelada na bigas ang kakailanganin sa loob ng isang taon at dapat na sa mababang halaga ito mabibili ng taong bayan.

Sumasabay din ang klima ng panahon na pabago-bago at madalas nakakadanas ng mga iba’t-ibang kalamidad. Nariyan na tumataas ang level ng tubig dagat, sa lupa, mainit na panahon, pagbaha at malalakas na ulan na siyang nagpapahirap sa ating mga magsasaka sa buong mundo.

Kaya dito nagsisimula na maglalaho ang sustansiya ng lupa, na siya ring dahilan sa paghina ng ani ng mga magsasaka sa mundo. Hindi na kataka-taka na umabot ng isa lang sa anim o mahigit na sa isang bilyon na tao ang nabubuhay sa kahirapan na halos hindi nakakatikim ng bigas bawat araw.

Samantala, patuloy rin na lumaki ang bilang ng malnutrisyon sa buong mundo, dahil sa epekto ng mababang produksiyon ng bigas, na hindi abot kaya ng mga mahihirap nating mga kababayan. kung kaya ganoon na lamang ang pagsisikap ng ating mga makabagong Scientists sa buong mundo.

Para sa kinabukasan, magpapatuloy ang pag-aaral upang matugunan ang suplay ng bigas sa buong mundo. Maingatan ito, maunawaan, maibahagi na gamit sa hinaharap itong Rice Genetic Diversity.

Ang sama-samang puwersa ng IRRI’s ay umabot na sa isang libo tatlong daan at limampu (1,310). Samanta umabot naman sa isang libo at isang daan(1,100) na ang mga headquarters sa Pilipinas, isang daan dalawampu(120) naman sa Bansang Bangladesh, limampu (50) sa India at sa iba pang lokasyon sa Asya at Aprika.

Kaya nag-iimbita pa ang IRRI ng mga bagong Scientist ng Bigas, para mabigyan ng tamang pagsasanay, upang mabawasan o maiwasan na ang malnutrisyon sa buong mundo. (Narisa P. Gonzales)

SOURCE

Writing Winning Scientific Proposals Training held for IRRI Post-Doctoral Fellow

Wednesday, 7 October 2015

29 Post-Doctoral Fellows attended the training on Writing Winning Scientific Proposals at the IRRI-HQ on 30 September 2015.

To give participants insights to the culture of competing for grants and awards, the processes of assessment, and the elements of successful and unsuccessful proposals were the aims of this workshop.

A one and a half-day, one-on-one writing​ coaching session with Dr. Camilla Myers of CSIRO Publishing,​ and​ Dr. Grant Singleton, Principal Scientist at IRRI capped the training activity. ​.

Training participants were: Sung Ryul Kim (PBGB), Anca Macovei (PBGB), Krishna Devkota (CESD), Toshishangba Chuba (PBGB), Nitika Sandhu (PBGB), Alexander Stuart (CESD), Govinda Rizal (C4), Nyo Me Htwe (CESD), Pieter Rutsaet (SSD), Bryce Blackman (TC), Shanta Karki (C4), Ambica Paliwal (SSD), Suchit Shrestha (CESD), Jolly Chaterjee (C4), Jae-Sung Lee (TTCGRC), Johnvie Goloran (CESD), Jessica Rey (PBGB), Ramkumar Gandhimani (PBGB), Prasad Senadheera (PBGB), Vivek Thakur (C4), Hsiang-Chun Lin (C4), Akshaya Kumar Biswal (C4), Ando Radanielson (CESD), Dmytro Chebotarov (TTCGRC), Hedia Tnani (PBGB), Robert Coe (C4), Maria Stephanie Dwiyanti (PBGB), Hung Van Nguyen (CESD), Millicent Sanciangco (TTCGRC).

For future Learning & Development programs, please contact irrihrs-opds@irri.org or call ext 2824. HRS Workplace Communications Article No. 2015-046

SOURCE

Publishing with Impact Course successfully held at IRRI-HQ.

Wednesday, 7 October 2015

On 28-29 September 2015, 24 Post-Doctoral Fellows attended the Publishing with Impact Course held at the IRRI-HQ.


This workshop aims to provide participants with skills and confidence to write scientific papers for successful publication in leading scientific journals.


Dr. Camilla Myers of CSIRO Publishing facilitated the course in cooperation with Dr. Grant Singleton, Principal Scientist at IRRI​.


Workshop attendees include: Alexander Stuart (CESD), Govinda Rizal (C4), Nyo Me Htwe (CESD), Pieter Rutsaet (SSD), Bryce Blackman (TC), Shanta Karki (C4), Ambica Paliwal (SSD), Suchit Shrestha (CESD), Jolly Chaterjee (C4), Jae-Sung Lee (TTCGRC), Johnvie Goloran (CESD), Jessica Rey (PBGB), Ramkumar Gandhimani (PBGB), Prasad Senadheera (PBGB), Vivek Thakur (C4), Hsiang-Chun Lin (C4), Akshaya Kumar Biswal (C4), Ando Radanielson (CESD), Dmytro Chebotarov (TTCGRC), Hedia Tnani (PBGB), Robert Coe (C4), Maria Stephanie Dwiyanti (PBGB), Hung Van Nguyen (CESD), Millicent Sanciangco (TTCGRC).

For future Learning & Development programs, please contact irrihrs-opds@irri.org or call ext 2824. HRS Workplace Communications Article No. 2015-045

SOURCE

Top 10 IRRI Contributions to the World

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), a dedicated international institute for rice research and training, was established in 1960 with the support of the Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation and the Government of the Philippines.  Its headquarters is located in Los Baños, Laguna in the Philippines and offices are in at least sixteen countries. For over half a century, IRRI has been in fore-front of research, news, breakthroughs and in receiving awards.  Here I like to create a discussion to find out top 10 things that we remember, when we mention the term IRRI. I compiled 10 contributions that I feel put IRRI at the helm. I want to initiate a discussion to find other major contributions of IRRI. Feel free to share your opinion.

1. Yoshida Solution

In an in vivo hydroponics rice seedling culture system, rice seedling either germinated directly on the solution or obtained from tissue culture are grown in the solution for considerable time. The solution must have nutrients in right amount. In 1976, S Yoshida and his research team published the ingredients and recipes for preparation of culture solution. Today, this recipe is widely known and used as Yoshida solution.

Ref: Yoshida S, Forno D.A., Cock J.H. & Gomez K.A. (1976). Laboratory Manual for Physiological Studies of Rice. IRRI, Manila. Philippines

2.  IR8

A year after the establishment of IRRI in 1962, Dr. Peter Jennings made 38 crosses of various varieties at IRRI. The eighth cross was between a dwarf variety known as Dee-geo-woo-gen (DGWG) and Peta, a tall variety. After cultivation for several generations uniform plants with high yield were selected, multiplied and distributed to farmers across the rice growing world that led to increase the rice yield that contributed to green revolution. The plants were about 120 cm tall, had strong culms, matured in 130 days- about a month earlier than the traditional varieties. Traditional varieties were averaging around one ton of rice per hectare of land (a hectare is 2.5 acres). Dr S. K. De Datta, published the result that said - the IR8 rice produced around 5 tons per hectare with no fertilizer and rose to almost 10 tons with 120 kg of nitrogen per hectare. That was 10 times the traditional rice yield. Later other lines with prefix IR , such as IR 64, IR 72, etc were released. In 2013, IRRI celebrated 100,000th cross.

Ref: http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe50s/crops_17.html

3. Rice genebank

IRRI maintains the International Rice Genebank that holds with more than 127,000 rice accessions and wild relatives. Samples of rice found in different countries in the world are in IRRI for safe keeping, and for sharing the common public good. As the rice is gradually replaced from farmers’ field and from their natural habitat, IRRI maintains them. The seeds are stored in low temperature in specially designed gene bank where the seeds are kept viable for many decades. IRRI gives free samples of different types of rice seed to any prospective user (farmers, scientists, researchers, governments or other stakeholders) on request, according to the conditions of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.  A copy of all the collection have been deposited in Svalbard Global seed Voult ( Norway). This reserve bank of seeds is an attempt to preserve seeds in future.

Ref:  http://irri.org/our-work/research/genetic-diversity/international-rice-genebank

https://www.regjeringen.no/en/topics/food-fisheries-and-agriculture/landbruk/svalbard-global-seed-vault/id462220/

4. Whole genome (re)sequencing of rice

Though modestly referred in most publications, the then Biometrics and Bioinformatics Unit of International Rice Research Institute played a significant role in the whole genome sequencing. In 2002 the first rice genome sequencing was completed and it was published in 2005. Since then the genomics research in rice has increased dramatically.  At present, IRRI has completed whole genome sequencing of 3000 accessions of rice and is sequencing more accessions.

Ref:  http://rgp.dna.affrc.go.jp/E/IRGSP/Dec18_NEWS.html

http://irri.org/news/media-releases/3-000-rice-genome-sequences-made-publicly-available-on-world-hunger-day

http://www.gigasciencejournal.com/content/3/1/7

6. Stress (Submergence, drought and salt) tolerant rice

IRRI has developed rices for drought, flood, submergence and salinity prone areas.  They have been released in Asia and Africa. Rice with SUB1 gene derived from an indica rice has been bred into local and high yielding varieties to develop rice which overcome submergence stresses. The SUB1A gene begins to work when the plants suffocates under water by making the metabolic activities in the plant dormant, conserving the vitality until the water level recedes.  The gene then works to induce tillering once the plant is above the water level. Rice with drought tolerant traits, salinity tolerant traits have been developed and released. They were welcomed by the farmers from the affected areas. 

7. Long-term continuous cropping experiment (LTCCE)

Unless challenged with examples of other longer experiments, this remains the longest experiment to study the effect of continuous intensive cropping in field without addition of fertilizer or crop residues. It was started in 1952 and more than 150 crops have been harvested from these plots. Even now the soil has remained fertile to yield 2 to 3 tons per hactre per crop.

Details are HERE

8. Central Luzon loop survey

​​​The Central Luzon Loop Survey was started by IRRI scientists in 1966 prior to the Green Revolution. It is believed to be the longest continuous survey in rice farming and of rice farm families. The survey is taken for every 4-5 years. The sample farms are selected from the six municipalities in Laguna province - namely: Bay, Binan, Cabuyao, Calamba, Calauan,and Sta. Rosa. The survey tracks the changes in the farmer adopted rice technology, cultural practices, land tenure, mechanization, and labor practices 

Details: HERE

Readers,

I am sure you don’t agree with some of the achievements above. So I leave the next two highlights to you to propose. Please provide support your claims.

9.

10.

Photo credits: IRRI Flickr
References: as cited or linked above.

IRRI Photos

Source: IRRI Flickr

Dr Achim Dobermann leaves IRRI

Dr Achim Dobermann, the deputy director general for research (DDGR) IRRI from 2009 to 2014 was given a farewell on 21 February 2014. He is appointed the Director of Rothamsted Research UK.

Some photos taken during his ext seminar

Discourse with the trainees of the Rice Production Course

Course Description:

Participants will be able to get their feet wet in the rice paddies of Asia and to know how rice is connected to the international community.

The 3-week course aims to create a new generation of plant scientists that are well networked into the international community and understand the importance of innovative plant science in addressing global problems.  The course will enable the participants to:

·        understand the basics of rice production with field visits to the main rice production region in the Philippines;
 

·        be familiar with the germplasm collection at IRRI and current issues related to germplasm exchange and property rights;

·        appreciate the research issues of IRRI and its development partners;

·        acquire hands-on skills relating to rice breeding, molecular genetic, and genomics;

·        understand how to structure effective international collaborations, and

·        plan and personal contacts to work effectively as part of the international research community in the future.