IPO publishes BSU invention
THE Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPO) recently recognized Senior Science Research Specialist Dr. Johnny G. Dati, Division Chief, Training and Extension of Horticultural Research and Training Institute (HORTI) at Benguet State University(BSU) for his invention “Process for Controlling Shoot Growth and Increasing Tuber Formation” released on February 20, 2017 in the IPO EGazette volume 20 no. 21.
The Northern Philippine Root Crop Research Training Center (NPRCRTC) of BSU offered farmers a cheaper alternative potato planting material which can produce better quality of tubers. However, few farmers and institutions including the said center produced seed tubers with very large and tall plants during noninductive environmental conditions but fewer tubers produced. This problem then lead Dr. Dati to start his research and invention which can help to address this matter.
According to Dr. Dati, the newly published invention is a process of using growth retardant which is Paclobutrazol as a single foliar spray. It was applied at the rates of 25 parts per million and 50 parts per million where each potato plant received approximately 10-ml just enough to wet the foliage using knapsack sprayer normally done in the afternoon. Paclobutrazol was applied at 25 days after planting (pre-tuberization), 40 days after planting (tuber initiation) and 55 days after planting (tubers 1-2 cm in diameter) during the growth stages of potato plants.
As a result, the application of paclobutrazol reduced vigorous large and tall potato plants, enhances shoot apices for bud development, reduction in internode’s length and early branching, tuber growth, more induced number and heavier weight of potato tubers and increased
"What if, even with all the reforms and control mechanisms in place, the new SK still becomes corrupt?"
This question was raised by a student leader at a forum on governance and youth development organized by the Department of Political Science of the University of Baguio. Interestingly, the query came from a non-political science student. According to the student leader, he witnessed how the previous SK in their community became "corrupt and ineffective".
It was an interesting question. It revealed young people's perception about the SK as a brand and an institution. The question also implicitly expressed a genuine concern for the institution. Young people still fear that the new and reformed SK might revert back or degenerate into what it was like before.
The fears and even pessimism of many young people are not unwarranted as the history of SK was marked with vestiges of patronage politics. The calls for its abolition were and still are fueled by perceived and actual issues of inefficiency, ineffectiveness and irrelevance.