MANILA, Philippines — The National Plant Genetics Resources
Laboratory (NPGRL) at the University of the Philippines at Los
Baños (UPLB) is undergoing a P5-million upgrading by the
Department of Agriculture (DA).

NPGRL is the country’s principal repository of genetic
resources for crops crucial to agriculture and food security.

Located at the Institute of Plant Breeding, College of
Agriculture (IPB-CA) of UPLB, the project is scheduled to be
completed by April.

Agriculture Assistant Scretary and National Rice Program
Cordinator Dante S. Delima said the project involves the repair
of facilities and equipment for seed processing
characterization and NPGRL in vitro units.

“NPGRL is at the forefront of plant genetic resources
management and conservation,” Delima said, “and repairs are
necessary to ensure the smooth flow of operations at the
laboratory which was damaged by a strong typhoon a few years
ago,” Delima said.

Project leader Visitacion Huelgas thanked DA for the support
and vowed to complete the repair, rehabilitation, electrical
work and purchase of needed equipment by April.

UPLB Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension Ma. Victoria
Espaldon, UPLB Dean Domingo Angeles, and Director Jose
Hernandez also signed the letter.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala initiated the project
to upgrade research stations, stock farms, and experimental
stations in the countryside for possible funding.

“Ito ang magiging mukha ng ating kagawaran sa bawa’t lugar.
Ayusin natin ito at gawing sentro ng teknolohiya na ipamamahagi
sa mga magsasaka,” Alcala said.

The NPGRL is the national leader in plant genetic resource
activities. It identifies important and potentially useful
agricultural crops used by plant breeders and other researchers
in their crop improvement and breeding activities.

NPGRL holds the largest national germplasm collection in
Southeast Asia, comprised of more than 45,000 accessions of 600
agricultural crop species and their relatives such as corn,
mungbean, tomato, eggplant, yardlong bean, cowpea, and edible
and wild Musa, which includes banana and plantain, mongo and
root crops.

It also conducts research on the conservation and sustainable
use of agricultural biodiversity.

NPGRL also introduced and evaluated improved and superior
landraces of banana and identified cultivars that have good
potential in terms of yield and acceptability.

It was also identified as National Repository, Multiplication
and Distribution Center by Bioversity International, an
international non-profit organization that undertakes research
aimed at improving people’s lives through the use and
conservation of agricultural biodiversity.