1. Strengthening Rice Breeding
Program in Mekong Region
Theerayut Toojinda
Jonaliza Lanceras-Siangliw
GCP General Research Meeting
Hyderabad, India
Sept. 21-25, 2011

2. Rice Planting Area in Mekong Region
Rice Planting
Area (million
ha)
Thailand Myanmar Laos Cambodia
Irrigated 1.84 1.62 0.07 0.20
Rainfed
Lowland
7.36 3.89 0.49 2.15
Rainfed
Upland
0.01 1.46 0.10 0.05
Submergence
prone
0.18 1.13 0.00 0.10
Total 9.20 8.10 0.66 2.50

3. Major Constraints in Rice Production in the
Mekong Region
Submergence : In 2006 0.8 million ha were
flooded (500 million $)
Brown plant hopper : In 2010, BPH caused the
yield loss up to 1.1 million tons (350 million $)
Drought :In 2004, more than 1.2 million ha of the rice
production areas were hit by drought causing the
yield loss for 1.83 million ton (370 million $)
Blast : In 2007, blast disease infected rainfed
lowland rice causing the yield loss 50-85 %.

4. Goals of Mekong Region in Rice Improvement
 Improve grain eating and cooking quality
 Stabilize yield of Mekong mega varieties by
improving resistance against biotic and abiotic
stresses
 Strengthen human resource in the region by
applying MAS biotechnology in rice breeding
 Improve phenotyping facilities in rice breeding

5. Rice Gene Discovery Unit – A Research Hub
 Genetic Information
 QTL/Gene Information
 Blast
 BLB
 Bph
 Submergence
 Salinity
 Drought
 Rice Quality
 Marker Technology
 SSR
 SNP
 Microarray

6. Rice Gene Discovery Unit – A Research Hub
Genotyping Capacity

7. Rice Gene Discovery Unit – A Research Hub
Phenotyping Capacity
Green house

8. Phase I: Regional Workshop on Molecular Breeding in
Rice for Mekong Region: Line Conversion Using MAS
 Funding Agency: Rockefeller Foundation, BIOTEC,
Kasetsart University
 Duration: 2004 – 2006
 Objectives:
 Transfer DNA technology and genomic information from
RGDU to breeding institutes in the region
 Improvement of traditional cultivars by using MAS
 Enhance research collaboration between/among institutes
in countries in Mekong region

9. DAR – Manawthukha (HY) + aroma and intermediate AC
- Sin Thwe Latt (HY) + salinity tolerance
NAFRI – Thaddokham 1 (HY) + aroma and low GT
CARDI – CAR3 (DT) + aroma and low GT
THAILAND – IR57514 (DT, Sub) + aroma and low AC
- RD6 (quality) + blast resistance
- Chainat1 (HY) + bph resistance

10. Phase I: Regional Workshop on Molecular Breeding in
Rice for Mekong Region: Line Conversion Using MAS
First workshop – June 2004
Second workshop – January 2005
Third workshop – June 2005
Fourth workshop – January 2006

11. Phase II: Community of Practice “Concept Applied to Rice
Production in Mekong Region: Quick Conversion of Popular
Rice Varieties with Emphasis on Drought, Salinity and Grain
Quality Improvement”
 Funding Agencies: Generation Challenge Program;
BIOTEC
 Duration: 2007 – 2009
 Objectives:
 Continuation of line conversion using MAS
 Validation of introgression lines for target trait
performance, yield and agronomic characters
 Workshop on QTL and marker-assisted selection for plant
breeding

12. Phase II: Community of Practice “Concept Applied to Rice Production in
Mekong Region: Quick Conversion of Popular Rice Varieties with
Emphasis on Drought, Salinity and Grain Quality Improvement”
First workshop – May 2007
Second workshop – November 2007
Third workshop – May 2008
Fourth workshop – April 2009

13. Knowledge and Technology Transfer - Workshop On Site
CARDI
June 19-20, 2007
DAR
August 20-21, 2007
NAFRI
July 3-4, 2007
Video of lab
protocols for
MAS

14. Aromatic CAR3 CAR3
Half kilo of aromatic CAR3 was distributed to 6 farmers
for wet season 2011 farmers’ field trials.

15. Savannakhet Province Champasak Province
Aromatic Thadokkam1

16. 12 ha. Aungzeya, Nay Pyi Taw
Pyiamana, Nay Pyi Taw
Latpadan
Kyaukse
Aromatic MNT
SalTol STL
SalTol STL Kyaukse
Aromatic MNT SalTol STL
Aromatic IR57514

17. Sagaing Mandalay Yangon Bago (East) Ayeyarwaddy Rakh ine AVG Range
1 Yn3018-183-1-3-2 4.01 5.23 3.88 4.05 2.90 4.76 4.14 2
2 Yn2684-2-5-1-2-1 4.31 5.48 3.43 3.60 2.81 4.03 3.94 5
3 Yn2744-49-383-2-3 4.19 5.05 4.12 3.21 3.45 3.75 3.96 4
4 Yn3248-MAS-BC4F2-1124.41 5.38 3.49 3.62 5.42 3.34 4.28 1
5 Manawthukha 4.51 4.52 4.26 4.05 4.81 2.38 4.09 3
Mean Yield 4.26 5.13 3.84 3.70 3.88 3.65 4.08
Sr. no. Entries
Grain yield (Ton/ha)
Yield performance on different locations
Maturity Days - 137
Plant Height (cm) - 103-117
Productive tillers - 9 - 11
Total grains / panicle - 90 - 117
Fill grain (%) - 88 – 95
1000 grain weight (gm) - 21.4
Yield (Bsk/ac) - 83 - 106
Group - (B)
Milling (%) - 54
Amylose content (%) - 25.8
Eating quality - good
Grain quality - Trans;
Distinct character - smell
Adapted locations -Both of Irrigated and Rainfed lowland
Yn 3248-BC4F2-112

18. Yield performance of On- Farm trials(2010 WS)
No Entry Name
Yield (tha-1)
Mean
(tha-1)
Mandalay Ayeyar
waddy
Taninthari
1 Yn 3220MAS 108-2-3-1 2.5 3.9 2.8 3.1
2 Yn 3220MAS 77-2-9-2 2.5 4.1 3.8 3.5
3 Yn 3220MAS 62-2-4 1.7 3.9 2.6 2.7
4 Yn 3220MAS 76-4-1 3.5 4.5 2.5 3.5
5 Sin Thwe Latt 2.6 3.8 2.9 3.1
Mean 2.6 4.0 2.9
Maturity Days - 150
Plant Height (cm) - 93.8
Productive tillers - 5 - 7
Total grains / panicle - 126
Fill grain (%) - 74
1000 grain weight (gm) - 32
Yield (tha-1) - 4.0 -4.5
Varietal Group - Emata
Milling (%) - 51.3
Amylose content (%) - 20.7
Eating quality - good
Grain quality - Translucence, wb
Distinct character - tolerance to EC 6 dS/m
Adapted locations -Costal and Inland salinity areas
Yn 3220-MAS-76-4-1

19. Ms. Myint Yi (DAR)
Mr. Then Rathmuny (CARDI)

20. Phase IIIa: Strengthening Human Resource in
Mekong Region: Community of Practice for Rice
Breeding with Emphasis on MAS
 Funding Agency: BIOTEC, Kasetsart University,
Rajamongkol University of Technology Lanna,
Ubon Ratchatani University
 Duration: 2009 – 2013
 Objectives:
 Develop human resource by providing scholarship
to staffs of DAR, NAFRI, CARDI and UBU by
improving popular rice variety using MAS

21. Rice Breeding Program of NAFRI (Laos) and CARDI (Cambodia)
Season
2010 WS
2011 WS
2012 DS
x
MAS
Aromatic
TDK1 with
Sub
IR85264-34-141
(Sub, Xa21, BL)
X
Aromatic
TDK1
X10 F1
1500 F2
F3
Plant type selection
Screening for blast
and submergence
tolerance
Aromatic
TDK1
TDK1 (Sub)
X 2010 DS
Season
2010 WS
2011 DS
2011 WS
x
Aromatic
CAR3
IR64 (Sub)X
Aromatic
CAR3
X10 F1
BC1F1
Screen
Sub
BC1F2X
BC2F2
Screen Sub
and Bph
xF1
F2
Select plant
type
2012 DSBPH
donor
X
x
F3
2012 WS
2013 DS

22. Rice Breeding Program of DAR, Myanmar
Season
2009 WS
2010DS
2010 WS
2011DS
2011WS
2012DS
x
x
MAS
Aromatic MNT
(BC4F4-75)
RGD07097-1-8M-9KPS
(xa5, Xa21, xa33)
X
Aromatic
MNT
X5 F1
92 BC1F1
Aromatic
MNT
X5 selected BC1F1
311 BC2F1 MAS
Aromatic
MNT
X7 selected BC2F1
171 BC3F1 MAS
1000 BC3F2
Plant type selection
and MAS
BC3F3
Screening for BB with
Thai and Myanmar
isolates
Season
2012 WS
2012 DS
2010 WS
2011 DS
2011 WS
2012 DS
x
x
MAS
SalTol STL IR57514
(Sub, Xa21)
X
SalTol STL X11 F1
298 BC1F1
SalTol STL X6 selected BC1F1
BC2F1 MAS
SalTol STL Xselected BC2F1
BC3F1 MAS
BC3
F2
Plant type selection
and MAS
BC3F3
Screening for salinity and
submergence tolerance
2013 WS
2013 DS

23. Rice Breeding Program of DAR, Myanmar
Season
2009 WS
2010DS
2010 WS
2011DS
2011WS
2012DS
MAS
Paw San Mhwe
(Aromatic)
IR 57514-333, -309
(Sub, aroma, Xa21)
X
PSM X 38 F1
279 BC1F1
PSM X 15 selected BC1F1
BC2F1 MAS
BC2F2
BC2F3 Screening and seed
increase
BC2F4
Observation
Yield trial
x
MAS and plant type
selection
x
x
2012WS

24. Rice Breeding Program of Thailand
KD571-77 x IR57514
F1 x IR57514
BC1F1 x IR57514
BC2F1
BC3F1
MAS
BC3F1
UBN
MAS
BC3F2
BC3F3
Field Testing of BC3F4 in RGDU
MASNov. 2007
May. 2008
Oct. 2008-
2009
May. 2007
MAS
MAS
Submergence screening
Grain quality test
RF, BIOTEC, KU
2004-2006
GCP, BIOTEC
2007-2009
Multi-location trials and
farmers’ participation in
selection
BIOTEC, GCP, RMUTL,
KU, UBU, RGDU
2009-2013
BC3F4-aromatic IR57514 x RD6
Glutinous Aromatic IR57514
BIOTEC, GCP, RMUTL,
KU, UBU, RGDU
2009-2013

25. Phase IIIb: The Community of Practice “Strengthening Rice
Breeding Program using Genotyping Building Strategy and
Improving Phenotyping Capacity for Biotic and Abiotic
Stresses in Mekong Region”
 Funding Agency: GCP, BIOTEC
 Duration: 2009 – 2012
 Objectives:
 Build phenotyping facilities for abiotic and biotic traits
in DAR, NAFRI and CARDI
 Validate and standardize phenotyping protocol that
fits the condition in each country
 Conduct phenotyping workshop
 Asses trait performance through field trials under
research farm and farmer’s field conditions

26. Facilities for Trait Phenotyping
Greenhouse for BB
screening and
submergence ponds
in DAR

27. Submergence ponds and BPH facilities in CARDI

28. Submergence ponds and greenhouse for blast
screening in NAFRI

29. Knowledge and Technology Transfer - Workshop On Site
Video of phenotyping protocols
1. Experimental designs and analysis
2. Screening techniques

30. Acknowledgement
U Khin Soe
Tin Tin Myint
Khin Myo Win
Thida
Kyaw Swar Oo
Bounthoung Bouahom
Phoumi Ithapanya
Kongpanh Kanyavong
Phetmanyseng Xangsayasane
Phatsalakhone Manivong
Ouk Makara
Sakhan Sophany
Ouk Sothea