Let the seed go away ...

A variety of rice, from the time in the lab to the field, took 4-5 years. In particular, variety testing is an indispensable end of a breeding program. And after being tested, recognized, breeding is equally important.

In addition to investment in breeding, the Mekong Delta Rice Institute pays great attention to developing the Program for testing rice varieties and Department of Seed Technology so that the Institute's rice varieties are more quality and ' go farther '.

' Connecting bricks ' to the market

The winter-spring crop in 2006-2007 in the Mekong Delta, the Mekong Delta Rice Breeding Trial Program conducted experiments at 11 points in 9 provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta: Can Tho, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, An Giang, Dong Towers, Kien Giang, Long An and Bac Lieu. Dr. Le Thi Du, Head of the Seed Testing Program, explained: 'The trial is to evaluate the potential of yield, resistance to pests and diseases, grain quality, stability and adaptability of the variety on intensive conditions. Different soup. This is the basis for breeders, extension workers and farmers to use seeds more effectively. ' Through testing and evaluation of varieties, the program has made conclusions about good varieties that can be put into the breeding structure in the summer-autumn crop in 2007, including 11 old varieties and 13 new varieties to resist brown plant hopper, short-term yellow disease. . In addition, there are 2 specialty varieties, light fragrant, resistant to stunted diseases: OM 3536 and ST 5.

According to Dr. Pham Van Du, Deputy Director of the Mekong Delta Rice Institute, to release a new rice variety, there must be over 10,000 hectares of variety trials. This is a challenging step to 'measure' whether farmers accept new varieties. Dr. Pham Van Du emphasized: 'The testing of varieties is very important, while helping farmers have new varieties continuously to produce and help breeders to evaluate and orient breeding programs. paddy. Thereby, the Institute also has a basis to have a strategy to select and create varieties for sustainable rice production in the Mekong Delta '.

On average, each year, the Mekong Delta Rice Institute has conducted a trial of 6 varieties at 11 points in the Mekong Delta, each set of about 10-15 varieties. Through the experiment, the Institute determined that the varieties belonging to the A0 are very favored by the provinces because of the short growth time, from 85-90 days, suitable to the structure of increasing crops, avoiding floods and avoiding salinity. The varieties are difficult, alum, salty suitable for the provinces: Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau . Farmers in Tien Giang and Long An provinces prefer varieties in the sticky and specialty. Dr. Le Thi Du said: 'This information helps the Institute determine the varieties for the seasonal structure of Mekong Delta provinces'. According to Dr. Du, agricultural extension workers, farmers . in localities are very interested in seed quality, pest and disease characteristics. Good varieties must be attached to the market. In the near future, testing will focus more on grain quality to select varieties suitable for domestic market and export market.

Farmers are evaluating rice varieties of the Mekong Delta Rice Institute.
(Photo of Mekong Delta Rice Institute)

Improving seed quality

Currently, in the Mekong Delta, the cultivated area of ​​certified rice seeds accounts for about 25% -33% of the total rice area. The Mekong Delta Rice Institute is determined to bring this figure to 40% by 2010. In order to achieve this goal, the Institute must increase the supply of super-pure and pure breeds to certified seed production establishments in localities. Master Huynh Van Nghiep, in charge of the Department of Seed Technology, said: 'The demand for seed of the Mekong Delta is huge. Every year, the Mekong Delta Rice Institute provides over 2,000 tons of varieties. Currently, the Institute has stopped providing certified rice varieties to focus on providing the super-prototypal and pure varieties'. In the winter-spring crop in 2007, the Mekong Delta Rice Institute produced 23 tons of super-pure varieties, 430 tons of pure seeds.

Not only seed supply, Department of Seed Technology also conducted researches contributing to increase seed quality. These are studies on measures to preserve and prolong the 'vitality' of seeds, handle to limit seed diseases . Recently, the Department has proposed some solutions such as: use Carban chemicals to process seeds; soak seeds for a short time in 15% salt solution before soaking in order to eliminate suspended seeds, carry pathogens .

According to Master Huynh Van Nghiep, the winter-spring crop gives better quality of rice seeds than other crops of the year, so it has to find ways to preserve it for long-term use. In the near future, the Department will register to carry out the research project to preserve good seeds. This project will further study fungal diseases on seeds, strengthen seedlings after seed storage time, some dye chemicals, ' coat ' of seeds to increase preservation efficiency.

In strengthening the supply of super-prototypal varieties and pure breeds, the Department of Seed Technology has more advantages after the Mekong Delta Rice Institute received the project to develop export rice varieties delivered by the Department of Crop Production. Project to support infrastructure development of the Institute, such as warehouses, drying yards, drying plants, fields . to conduct propagation at all levels; in which, mainly original and super-prototypal varieties.

The department will also be invested over 2 billion VND to establish a seed industry testing laboratory in place of the current situation, in coordination with the Southern Center for Plant Variety Testing and Testing to verify and test seeds. like. Master Huynh Van Nghiep said: 'There is a seed testing laboratory meeting the industry standards, the Mekong Delta Rice Institute will be much more convenient in verifying, testing and granting seed certificates to the Institute and some surrounding localities. . The Institute will cooperate with localities to produce similar brands of Mekong Delta Rice Institute '.

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Dr. Pham Van Du, Deputy Director of the Mekong Delta Rice Institute, affirmed : 'The Mekong Delta Rice Institute is very interested in the work of seed testing, propagation and seed quality improvement. These are very important stages to bring new and superior rice varieties to farmers soon, increase the value of rice grain economy and help the lives of Mekong Delta farmers better. ' Therefore, the Institute will continue to invest in equipment, strengthen human resources for the Seed Testing Program with the Department of Seed Technology to expand the contents of testing and improve seed quality.

HUIEN PROFILE