HYBRID & INBRED

What is a Hybrid Rice Variety ?

            A Hybrid Rice Variety is a product of cross pollination or the transfer of pollen from the anther of one rice plant to the stigma of another rice plant. Thus, two rice plants are needed to produce its seed-one as the female parent and the other as male parent. Also called F1, a hybrid variety exhibits performs better than its parent. Seeds harvested from the F1, hybrid are not recommended for planting in the following season owing to expected reduction in yield quality and quantity. It can produce 180/hectar. Examples of varieties are PSB RC26H MAGAT), PSB RC72H (MESTIZO1, PSB RC76H (PANAY) and NSIC PC114H (MESTIZO2).

            Through the conventional breeding process, it normally takes8-10 years to develop a variety -1 year to perform crosses and to produce segregating population for the plant selection and 3 years thereafter to generate uniform lines and start the preliminary and general yield trials(2 years). After 6 years, the lines are advanced to multi-location testing or national cooperative testing, which takes 2 ½ years. Breeden resistance, and grain and eating quality parameters, it is recommended and released as a new variety.

            Most of the rice varieties in farmer fields are inbred. Because hybrid is susceptible in bacterial leaf blight during main crop. Seeds of hybrid are more expensive than inbred seeds. Lack of knowledge about the advantages of hybrid rice compared to inbred rice. (read more)