Three Philippine-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology (PhilSCAT) hybrid rice varieties—LP0331, LP0353, and LP0330—have passed the National Cooperative testing for hybrids and were awarded the Certificate of Registration by the National Seed Industry Council (NSIC) of the Bureau of Plant Industry last November 20, 2008.

As a nomenclature protocol for rice varieties developed in the Philippines, the said PhilSCAT varieties can now be identified with their local name Mestizo 12 or NSIC Rc174H (LP0331), Mestizo 13 or NSIC Rc176H (LP0353) and Mestizo 14 or NSIC Rc178H (LP0330).

PhilSCAT has now made these proven high-yielding hybrid rice varieties commercially available sold at P3,000.00 per bag of 20 kg good for 1000 hectares. As per PhilSCAT testing, the Chinese hybrids can yield up to 16 tons per hectare.

Seeds are currently being imported from China through the Agroman Biosystem Corporation.

The said varieties will be planted in more than 1000 hectares in Nueva Ecija including areas in Sto. Domingo, Quezon, Licab, and Talavera in March. This will be part of the quick turnaround (QTA) program of the Department of Agriculture. The QTA is a government intervention program which aims to boost agriculture production and make farming even more profitable.

China is known for its pioneering work in breeding rice varieties to become high-yielding and resistant hybrids producing an overwhelming yield of up to 300 and even more cavans per hectare. China, despite its population of billion, has ascended to be rice self-sufficient because of its discovery of hybrid rice technology.

Results of the PhilSCAT and Rice Varietal Improvement Group (RVIG)-PhilRice testing of Mestizo 12 show that it has outstanding varietal characteristics based on across season testing including high and consistent yield advantage over PSB Rc72H or Mestizo 1 at 10.3 percent and PSB Rc82 at 10.9 percent, average of 112 maturity days, 110 cm plant height, 12 productive tillers, and susceptible to resistant reaction to rice

diseases and insect pests. Mestizo 12 also obtained an 18.8 percent across season yield advantage over PSB Rc72H when planted in PhilRice CES.

Mestizo 13 registered a 5.8 percent yield advantage over PSB Rc72H or Mestizo 1 and 6.6 percent over PSB Rc82, average of 113 maturity days, 112 cm plant height, 12 productive tillers, and moderately susceptible to resistant reaction to rice diseases and insect pests. Mestizo 13 obtained a 13.6 percent across season yield advantage over PSB Rc72H and 16.2 percent over PSB Rc82 when planted in Bohol APC, one of the NCT trial sites.

Mestizo 14 had an average of 118 maturity days, 110 cm plant height, 13 productive tillers, and moderately susceptible to resistant reaction to rice diseases and insect pests.
All three commercially new varieties have good milling, high headrice recovery, and good eating quality.

The project is handled by Dr. Eliseo L. Ruiz, Mr. Presciliano D. Evangelista, Dr. Romeo B. Gavino, Dr. Carlos C. Abon, Jr. and Engr. Teofilo T. Vergara, all alumni of CLSU.