Rice improvement at IRRI: an example of International Collaboration

Abstract

The rice improvement program of International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is an international and interdisciplinary effort. It has five components, i.e.(1) Germplasm collection, conservation and evaluation, (2) Methodology development, (3) Development of improved germplasm, (4) Exchange and evaluation of germplasm, and (5) Training and staff development. More than 91, 000 accessions of cultivated rice and wild species of Oryza are being maintained in germplasm bank at IRRI. These are being evaluated for various morphological traits, grain quality and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Methods for accelerated rice improvement have been developed. Superior germplasm has been bred for all the rice growing ecologies with a focus on yield enhancement, shorter growth duration, superior grain quality, resistance to diseases and insects and tolerance to abiotic stresses. More than 600 improved varieties have been selected from the IRRI bred materials and released in rice growing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Rice production more than doubled in a 30-year period and most of the rice growing countries became self-sufficient. The germplasm is shared freely with the national programs on the basis of requests from scientists or through international nurseries. More than 1, 000 rice breeders have been trained at IRRI and are leading the rice improvement programs in respective countries.