Ceremony for the 100,000th rice-breeding cross, a major milestone in IRRI's 52-year history
Channel: International Rice Research Institute
Date: 29/11/2012

Also see: http://youtu.be/tX7eirF0SAU

On 29 November 2012, the IRRI community celebrated the 100,000th rice breeding cross at IRRI, a true milestone in the Institute's 52-year history existence.

The parents for the 100,000th cross were high-yielding NSICRc 214 and IR09M105, a high-nutrient variety. The objective of this particular cross was to improve eating quality. 

Making opening comments at the event were Eero Nissila, head of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology at IRRI -http://www.irri.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=11559:nissila-eero&lang=en - and Glenn  Gregorio, senior scientist/plant breeder - http://www.irri.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=9035:gregorio-glenn&lang=en

Special guest at the event was Rizal M. Herrera (see 1:38 and 8:13 into video and at right in the flickr photo at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ricephotos/8240999846/in/set-72157632156231455/), who was among the first breeders to make crosses at IRRI in the early 1960s - http://upcagolden2010.wordpress.com/2010/04/23/golden-profiles-inocencio-c-bolo - Mr. Herrera arrived at IRRI in 1961 as a research aide and retired 36 years later in 1997 as a senior assistant scientist. Below is his poem-essay about how, in rice breeding, marriage respects no boundaries.

Marriage Respects No Boundaries

by Rizal M. Herrera
IRRI rice breeder, 1961-97
 
Innocent-looking rice plants also engage in courtship and marriage practices. The rites are simple, devoid of elegant, expensive entourage, and there are no high government officials in flashy cars acting as principal sponsors. The bride, the superstar of the occasion, is not in the usual wedding gown attraction. She is not clad in  almost see-through Pitoy's creation from veil to trailings. She is simply a dark green rice plant with flowers stripped off its anthers, the male counterpart of the species.  

When rice flower buds are still empty of their stored starch, both male and female parts co-exist in the flower, capable of producing self-fertilized seeds.  To prevent self-pollination, castration by removing the male parts by tweezers is a requisite.  Only at this point would the rice plant be transformed into an instant bride.  

Before the cool evening is over, the bride is locked in a plastic bag to protect her from intruders.  She is in seclusion, awaiting her 'Prince Charming' during the long, haunting night. At daybreak, as the sun kisses the rice flowers and the morning dew shies away to join the rain clouds, the innocent bride sees hope for rejoicing -- a break from her solitary confinement.  Overjoyed to meet the groom, she sneaks through the transparent glassine bag, but to her disappointment, she finds no one.  

The sun hurriedly radiates more of its inexhaustible energy, unmindful of the dark clouds blocking its efforts to force the sleepy groom out of its capsule.  After a long extended wait, 'here comes the groom'; not the bride, excited, puzzled, and eager to know who his life partner could be.  The groom, who comes from an elite group, is as proud as ever to sire a celebrity noted for the family's capacity to give high grain yield.  

The ceremony commences without church bells ringing or a choir singing the popular tune  'Hind Kita Malilimutan', but barely introducing the groom as a golden yellow pollen grain, released by the burning sun from its hideaway.  With a mute "I do", the bride receives him with wide open arms. The newlyweds are veiled and bound together;  and the traditional wedding ring--simply a brightly colored merchandising tag with a piece of silvery string and a lead-coated paper clip--was put out.  Inscribed on the tag are the common names of the newly weds.  This is their marriage contract, a contract signed by both parties without an expiration date.  

The ceremony is finally over--no wedding cakes, doves, or bountiful food for the invited guests.  The honeymooners do not go to a five-star hotel.  They are left in a dark corner of the greenhouse after being covered with glassine bags, locked with a paper clip. But this union would be the start of something big--generations of rice varieties that are not hindered by boundaries.