Healthy Flavors of Science - pcaarrd - Department of Science and ...

anged from 10.47 tons/ha to
100.02 tons/ha and occurrence of
bacterial wilt was at 20–25%.
Management of bacterial wilt.
The bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum
causes wilt in solanaceous plants.
Management of this disease,
especially in potato, is challenging.
Effective management hinges on the
knowledge of its genetic diversity.
Researchers first assessed the
genetic diversity of the bacterial
isolates collected from the project
sites and compared them to isolates
collected in other parts of the
country. They then used the isolates
to evaluate the susceptibility of 18
potato varieties and 4 NOMIARC
or Northern Mindanao Integrated
Agricultural Research
Center lines.
Based on the
evaluation done in
Miarayon, Talakag, the
five best performers
for seed production
were Igorota, Raja,
Astra, Columbus, and
Kennebec. In addition,
NOM PO A, Kennebec,
Granola, NOM PO D,
and Atlantic showed
potential resistance
against bacterial
wilt in Imbayao,
Malaybalay City.
Aside from
planting less susceptible
varieties, other effective
management measures
for bacterial wilt
included bio-fumigation
and crop rotation.
Value chain for
high value vegetables.
The key buyers of high value
vegetables are hotels, resorts,
restaurants, and supermarkets.
Aside from determining this,
researchers compared the farm
gate prices and net margins of
traditional and institutional value
chains in southern Mindanao.
Project partners also enhanced
capability of smallhold farmers
while providing assistance.
Aiming for more
The fruit and vegetable program
will remain focused on solving
problems in crop management
specifically IPM, postharvest
handling, soil and nutrition issues,
and policy constraints. Researchers
and collaborators will continue to
refine technologies, intensify capacity
building, and assist in conducting
field days and developing and
packaging of relevant publications.
With its completion in 2012,
the program aims to leave a lasting
legacy to farmers, entrepreneurs,
policy makers, and the general
public. However, completion of
this program in the coming year
will not signal the end of the inflow
of technologies, innovations, and
knowledge to the people. With a
productive partnership between
ACIAR and PCARRD, the vegetable
and fruit growers stand to gain
more. (Renelle Comia-Yebron)
Faylon opens... (from page 3)
(HEIs) attended the forum. Here
they took stock of project results
and findings that could guide
their plans and activities for other
components of the program.
The national program supported
a wide range of interventions
to help and improve the quality
of AFNR degree offerings and
thus, to increase enrolment.
Notably, the program promotes
S&T-based entrepreneurship
development in SUCs. This will
balance the training of AFNR
students and provide them
with viable alternatives to wage
employment upon graduation.
With the program nearing its
completion, Faylon challenged all
present to use the findings of the
project to address the problem of
unemployment, especially of AFNR
graduates. (Pia Paula P. Mateo)
The PCARRD Monitor 7