DOST and UPLB project to boost competitiveness of Carabao mango through hybrids

Several accomplishments of a mango project by the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) aiming to develop mango hybrids are seen to improve the competitiveness of Carabao mango in the local and international markets.

The 6.5-year program, “Enhancing Competitiveness of Philippine ‘Carabao’ Mango through Varietal Improvement,” is funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), with a total budget of P33 million.

It aims to identify molecular markers associated with red blush, thick peel, and resistance to fruit fly and anthracnose through genotyping by sequencing technology. It also aims to develop hybrids that may have the target traits singly or in combination with the other intended traits.

Dr. Maria Luz J. Sison of the Institute of Plant Breeding, University of the Philippines Los Baños (IPB-UPLB) leads the program.

According to Ms. Carolyn E. Alcasid, leader of the component project,“Characterization of ’Carabao’ and other Mango Varieties with Red Blush and Thick Peel, and Development of Hybrids,” one ‘Carabao’ mango selection with excellent eating quality has been registered to the IPB Germplasm and Technology Release and Registration Office (GTRRO).

The team also registered to the National Seed Industry Council (NSIC) two other mango varieties, ‘Mangoming’ and ‘Farrales,’ which have potential for processing and as table type mango, respectively.

Another ‘Carabao’ mango selection with good eating quality and resistance to anthracnose was also identified and will be registered.

Ms. Alcasid also reported that four ‘Carabao’ mango hybrids with red blush were also produced and characterized.

Dr. Sison presented notable accomplishments of the project, “Characterization of ’Carabao’ and other Mango Varieties with Resistance to Fruit fly and Anthracnose,”: four ‘Carabao’ mango selections with resistance to fruit fly and three ‘Carabao’ mango selections with resistance to anthracnose had been identified.

These accomplishments were presented during the virtual program review.

Participants included the program team members from IPB-UPLB headed by Dr. Fe M. Dela Cueva, Director of IPB and representatives from DOST-PCAARRD led by the Deputy Executive Director for R&D, Dr. Feliciano G. Calora, Jr., Officer-in-Charge of the Crops Research Division (CRD) Dr. Allan B. Siano and the CRD monitoring team.

Dr. Rene Rafael C. Espino, Retired Professor from UPLB, served as the Technical Reviewer and Evaluator.

A phase 2 program in the pipeline will complete the characterization and evaluation of the developed mango hybrids. (Ma. Cecilia S. Alaban/DOST-PCAARRD S&T Media Services)