Hybrid abaca to help eliminate losses from virus
Filipino breeders have developed a hybrid abaca with increased fiber yield that will potentially raise industry export and farmers’ income by at least 20 percent and eliminate 225 million in yearly losses from a viral disease.
The Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) is now carrying out multi-location field trials of the hybrid abaca for private sector use particularly in Panganiban, Catanduanes; Tagum, Davao del Norte; Kabacan, North Cotabato; Carsu, Butuan.
The variety is resistant to the highly infesting bunchy top viral disease that causes plant stunting and “bunchy” leaves. Losses from this viral disease have been estimated at 225.8 million. Losses are from Leyte provinces, 202.2 million and Bicol, 23 million.
“We have tested the fiber, and it’s acceptable to FPRDI (Forest Products Research and Development, Inc.) an SPMI (Specialty Paper Mfg Inc,” said breeder Dr. Antonio G. Lalusin during a press conference on featuring the “Sipag ni Juan” program of the Department of Science and Technology.
Exporting companies Newtech Pulp Inc. (NPI) and or Albay Agro Industrial Development Corp. or ALINDECO will test the abaca fiber for use in abaca pulp specialty products.
These are in partnership with state schools Visayas State University, Caraga State University or CARSU, Bicol University in Guinobatan in Albay, University of Southern Mindanao in North Cotabato and University of Southeastern Philippines in Tagum, Davao del Norte.
The Philippine Council for Agriculture Aquatic and Resources Research and Development-Department of Science and Technology (PCAARRD-DOST) financed the project.
NPI’s plant is in Bo. Maria Cristina, Lanao del Norte, ALINDECO, in Malinao, Albay.
ALINDECO’s plant and products are (Muslim food safety certification) Halalcertified. NPI is an affiliate of New York Stock Exchange-listed Glatfelter Co., a manufacturer of tea bags, composite fibers, technical long paper fiber.
Exporting firms need high quality fiber. It has to go through tests of porosity and tensile strength for use cordage and cellulose in pulp and paper.
Trials showed the hybrid abaca achieved a yield of 1.56 metric tons (MT) per hectare. The national average is only at half-a-ton at 527 kilos. Yield of commercial varieties is at 1.2-1.3 MT per hectare. IPB has also just completed sequencing the abaca genome.
“Now we’re able to see quickly genes that control traits,” said Lalusin.
The source varieties traditionally have good fiber quality, but these don’t have resistance to the virus — thus needing crossing.
“We’ve long had hybrid abaca varieties, but the F1s are not so good,” said Lalusin. F1s are hy brid seed (plants) that become superior as a result of cross breeding particularly using pre-selected parental breeds.
IPB employed use of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) molecular markers to help accelerate identify good traits in this hybrid product.
The private sector is focusing on manufacturing high-end pulp-made products as these command higher price in the market. Pulp and paper consists of 50 to 55 percent of the country’s export.