An adventure in applied science - IRRI books - International Rice ...

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110 History of the International Rice Research InstituteIR8 ready for harvest.This field yielded 8.5 t/ha. Note the uprightleaves, short stems,and heavy tiliering.IRRI’s early crosses, it was the only high-yielding entry that did not have as oneof its parents a semidwarf variety from Taiwan.In late 1967, the IRRI seed committee agreed to name IR5-47-2 as IR5.Simultaneously, the farm department at IRRI produced considerable seed fordistribution both in the Philippines and in other countries.In concentrating largely on the development and testing of IR8, the foregoingdescription of IRRI's rice breeding program does not do justice to theInstitute’s early efforts to produce superior rice varieties for the tropics. Awhole series of lines was developed with a plant type that was similar to IR8’sand with one of its parents a popular tall, disease-resistant tropical variety withacceptable grain quality. These were distributed all over Asia and to a largeextent in Latin America and Africa. Finding some of these materials excellentfor their own requirements, many countries gave them names and releasedthem as national varieties.When, in 1966, IR8’s superior yielding ability was recognized, the varietywas used as a parent in more than 70 of the 270 crosses made at IRRI that year.This was done to retain the excellent plant type and fertilizer responsivenesswhile introducing such characteristics as early maturity and resistance to blast,
Early research and training results 111bacterial blight, and tungro virus disease, and to such insect pests as the brownplanthoppers, green leafhoppers, and stem borers. Much effort was expendedto improve the grain quality of IR8 by removing the chalkiness and reducingthe amylose content of the starch. As is well known today, IRRI has beensuccessful in attaining most of those objectives.Distribution and spread of IR8As stated earlier, IRRI produced 71 t of good IR8-288-3 seed during the 1966dry season. Its rapid spread in the Philippines and in South and Southeast Asiain 1966-67 was a phenomenon worth reporting in some detail.Because IRRI was in the Philippines and because it was started as jointventure of the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations and the Government of thePhilippines, it seemed fitting that particular attention should be paid todistributing IR8-288-3 among Philippine farmers. The country had been importingrice for years and IRRI felt it should make every effort to assist its hostnation in becoming self-sufficient in that vital crop.One of the chief factors in the rapid spread of the new varieties in thePhilippines was the fact that President Ferdinand Marcos was back of theeffort. He and some of his staff went to IRRI on 3 June 1966 for his first visit aftertaking office. I happened to be abroad, but McClung took charge and withJennings, Moomaw, Golden, and others showed the President around andpointed out the fantastic yields being obtained by the short-statured geneticlines that were emerging from IRRI’s breeding program. Amazed to see plotsof IR8-288-3 loaded with grain and only 100 cm tall, President Marcos remarkedthat he had always thought the best rice was the tallest rice. Theexperienced opened his eyes to the possibilities for increasing rice productionin the Philippines.Marcos was so impressed by his visit to IRRI that he asked that its representativescome to Malacañang Palace on 11 June to explain the Institute’s riceimprovement program and how its results could be used in the Philippines. Bythat time, I had returned from my trip and, accompanied by Jennings, Golden,and Drilon, appeared before the President, the Cabinet, and the heads of allgovernment agencies having anything to do with rice research and productionin the Philippines. I presented Marcos with a token 2-kg bag of IR8-288-3 andinformed him and the entire audience that IRRI had reserved no less than 50t of seed of that selection for immediate distribution in the Philippines.At the meeting with President Marcos, the press was in attendance. On 12June, front-page articles appeared in all the Manila papers. The headline in theManila Bulletin read, “MARCOS GETS MIRACLE RICE.” That was the firsttime that the term miracle rice was used. IRRI scientists never referred to it assuch; the term was the creation of the news media and was widely employedamong writers from then on. In the Philippines, IR8-288-3 received majorattention because of an article written by Napoleon G. Rama in the 6 August1966 issue of the Philippines Free Press entitled, “Miracle Rice — InstantIncrease.” The writeup included a photograph of Jennings showing IR8-288-3 to President Marcos during his significant visit on 3 June.
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An Adventurein Applied Science:A HI
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ContentsDedication viiAbout this pu
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About this publication . . .In 20 y
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xiname, and release varieties. Thus
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PrefaceThe International Rice Resea
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CHAPTER 1An international institute
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An international institute for rice
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CHAPTER 2Developing and staffingthe
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Developing and staffing the program
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Page 107 and 108: Princess (now Queen)Beatrix of theN
Page 109 and 110: Establishing administrative policie
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Page 117 and 118: Chapter 4Early Researchand training
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Page 161 and 162: CHAPTER 5Financing of IRRIThe purpo
Page 163 and 164: Financing of IRRI 149foreign assist
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Creation of other international cen
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Creation of other international cen
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168 History of the International Ri
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Aerial view of IRRI in1981.However,
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IRRI today 181neering Department: K
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IRRI today 183In spite of this high
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IRRI today 185turn, received geneti
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IRRI today 1871. Research to assist
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Appendices 189materials could readi
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Appendix 2OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENTINTER
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Appendices 193ate to concentrate on
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Appendices 195estimates for buildin
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Appendices 197(4) Development of pr
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Appendices 199was approved for the
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Appendices 201association, or perso
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Appendices 203b. To pass upon the b
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Appendices 205Article VIIMISCELLANE
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