Crops Research Division

23/06/2026

: DOST-PCAARRD's Crops Research Division (CRD) recently held an inception meeting to officially launch the R&D Program for Sustainable and Competitive Philippine Onion Industry. The program has four (4) component projects and will focus on updating baseline information of onion production and post-production systems; identifying superior onion varieties with resistance to armyworm, improved flower adaptation, and seeding capacity; optimizing onion tissue protocols; improving productivity through carbon-dots technology; reducing postharvest losses through nano-based coating technology; and developing onion-based functional food products and by-products.

The program will be led by Dr. Franz Marielle N.Garcia, along with project leaders, Ms. Zeren Lucky L. Cabanayan, Dr. Marilou M. Sarong, and Ms. May V. Villaviza from the Central Luzon State University (CLSU).

The activity was led by CRD’s Program Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) Section Head Kristine Joy P. de Guzman, together with PME Assistant Section Head and Industry Strategic S&T Program (ISP) Manager for Vegetables Joel Norman R. Panganiban, ISP Manager for Legumes Venice Laurence N. Cosico, Financial Resource Management and Other Services Unit (FRMOSU) representative Shein Ann R. delos Reyes, Technical Support Staff of CRD’s Vegetables, Legumes and Root Crops (VELERO) Cluster Marc Vincent D. Jimenez, and representatives from the DOST – Provincial Science and Technology Office (PSTO) of Nueva Ecija.

📷: Marc Vincent D. Jimenez

18/06/2026

The Crops Research Division (CRD) of DOST-PCAARRD recently reviewed the project, "Investigating the Role of RNA-binding Proteome in Selected Philippine Open-Pollinated Tomatoes for Fungal and Bacterial Wilt Resistance." Led by Dr. John Dave C. Aquino from the Central Luzon State University (CLSU), this initiative aims to profile the different RNA-binding Proteome (RBPome) of selected Philippine open-pollinated tomato varieties as affected by economically important biotic stresses.

During the review, Dr. Aquino reported a collection of 15 Philippine open-pollinated tomato varieties, isolation and characterization of tomato bacterial and fungal wilt pathogens, and initial development of an offline RNA-binding protein database.

The review was led by CRD’s Monitoring and Evaluation Section Head Kristine Joy P. de Guzman, together with Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant Section Head and Industry Strategic S&T Program (ISP) Manager for Vegetables Joel Norman R. Panganiban, ISP Manager for Legumes Venice Laurence N. Cosico, Financial Resource Management and Other Services Unit (FRMOSU) representative Shein Ann R. delos Reyes, Technical Support Staff of CRD’s Vegetables, Legumes and Root Crops (VELERO) Cluster Marc Vincent D. Jimenez.

Also participating in the meeting were CLAARRDEC Consortium Director Dr. Emmanuel M. Vera Cruz, S&T Evaluator Dr. Ernelea P. Cao, representatives from the DOST – Provincial Science and Technology Office (PSTO) of Nueva Ecija, and the rest of the CLSU project team.

📷: Marc Vincent D. Jimenez, Tomato Proteomics Project Team

16/06/2026

As part of DOST-PCAARRD's continuing efforts to strengthen the country's legume industry, the Crops Research Division (CRD) officially launched the project titled, “Enhancing Post-Rice Peanut and Mungbean Productivity Using Improved S&T Interventions in Three Major Agro-Ecological Zones of Central Luzon,” during a recently held inception meeting. The project is led by Dr. Mary Grace B. Gatan of Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU) and aims to develop and validate a Package of Technology (POT) for post-rice peanut and mungbean production across the major agro-ecological zones of Central Luzon.

Following the inception meeting, the team conducted field visits to the established study sites in Magalang, Pampanga, and Concepcion, Tarlac to assess site conditions and discuss implementation plans with local partners.

The activities were led by Program Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) Section Head Kristine Joy P. de Guzman, together with Industry Strategic S&T Program (ISP) Manager for Legumes Venice Laurence N. Cosico, PME Assistant Section Head Joel Norman R. Panganiban, and DOST Pampanga Representative John Kenneth P. Soratio, along with the rest of the project team.

📷: Marc Vincent D. Jimenez, AEZ Peanut and Mungbean Project Team

16/06/2026

𝐃𝐎𝐒𝐓-𝐏𝐂𝐀𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐃 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐂𝐏𝐂-𝐔𝐏𝐋𝐁’𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐩 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬

The DOST-PCAARRD Crops Research Division (CRD) recently participated in the 1st National Convention of Crop Protection Centers, held in conjunction with the 50th Founding Anniversary of the National Crop Protection Center of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (NCPC-UPLB).

The meeting convened the NCPC, Regional Crop Protection Centers (RCPCs), and private companies to reflect on accomplishments, exchange insights, and update the current status of crop management across the regions.

Dr. Barbara L. Caoili, Director of NCPC, emphasized the need for a harmonized three-year workplan and closer coordination with the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) for overall crop management.

Plenary sessions highlighted the role of biotechnology in advancing molecular techniques in crop protection, plant health innovation, soil health stewardship, minimal inputs to elevate farmers’ income, and policy development. Additionally, the participants engaged in workshops focused on “futurist thinking” tools to modernize the operations of RCPC and NCPC.

The activity was attended by DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director Reynaldo V. Ebora, CRD Director Leilani D. Pelegrina, and key CRD staff, alongside representatives from College of Agriculture and Food Science-University of the Philippines Los Baños (CAFS-UPLB), Department of Agriculture (DA), Regional Crop Protection Centers (DA-RCPCs), Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Bureau of Plant Industry-Los Baños, Bureau of Plant Industry-Crop Pest Management Division (BPI-CPMD), Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS), Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), and other partner institutions.

📷 : Thrina A. Lanip and Jen Charmaine A. Lorenzo-Manohar

11/06/2026

DOST-PCAARRD proudly participates as a sponsor in the 56th Scientific Conference of the Crop Science Society of the Philippines (CSSP), reaffirming its commitment to advancing crop science research and agricultural innovation.

Representing the Council at this important event are Executive Director Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora and the members of the Crops Research Division (CRD), led by Dr. Leilani D. Pelegrina.

11/06/2026

03/06/2026

The Crops Research Division (CRD) of DOST-PCAARRD conducted an annual review and evaluation of the ongoing project on Coconut Hybridization Program (CHP) titled “Development of a Mechanized Coconut Pollen Processing System to Support the Hybridization Program.”

Led by Mr. Leo Jess G. Baya of the Philippine Coconut Authority–Zamboanga Research Center (PCA-ZRC), this initiative intends to improve processes for coconut pollen collection and processing toward efficiency, productivity, and pollen quality in support of CHP. Among the major accomplishments presented during the review were the development and fabrication of prototype machinery, and the functional and performance testing of the developed machines.

Present in the activity were S&T Consultant Victor A. Rodulfo, Jr., PCA-ZRC Acting Department Manager III Liberty H. Canja, and representatives from PCA and DOST Region IX Offices.

This event was spearheaded by CRD Director Leilani D. Pelegrina and Coconut ISP Manager Alissa Carol M. Ibarra, together with staff from the OED-RD, CRD, ARMRD, and FAD-Accounting of DOST-PCAARRD.

02/06/2026

The Crops Research Division (CRD) of DOST-PCAARRD recently conducted the review and evaluation of the ongoing project on Coconut Hybridization Program (CHP) titled “Agronomic Performance of a Hybrid Coconut Variety as Influenced by Various Fertilizer Treatments in an Intercropped Farming System under Romblon Agro-climatic Conditions,” led by Dr. Marjail I. Ferriol of Romblon State University (RSU).

The project established a hybrid coconut seed nursery at the RSU Research Center and field-planted 100 PCA15-2 (Malayan Red Dwarf x Tagnanan Tall) hybrid coconut seedlings. These are currently being subjected to various fertilizer treatments and intercropping set-ups to generate appropriate fertilizer management recommendations for hybrid coconut varieties grown under intercropped farming systems suited to the agro-climatic conditions of Romblon.

The activity was attended by key officials of RSU led by President Merian P. Catajay-Mani, PCA-Romblon Senior Agriculturist Oliver F. Gaa, DOST-Romblon Science Research Specialist Mae Angelica F. Famini, S&T Consultant Ramon L. Rivera, and the rest of the project team.

Following the review, the DOST-PCAARRD team, led by CRD Director Leilani D. Pelegrina and Coconut ISP Manager Alissa Carol M. Ibarra, conducted a field and monitoring visit at RSU to validate the reported findings and accomplishments.

📷: Maria Rae Lynne J. Rasgo

02/06/2026

01/06/2026

The Crops Research Division (CRD) of DOST-PCAARRD recently conducted the Pre-Terminal Review of the project titled “Enhancement of Ubi (𝘋𝘪𝘰𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘢 𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢 𝘓.) Production through Trials and Demonstrations of S&T-Based Farm Practices to Support Industry Development in Bohol” led by Prof. Marlon M. Tambis of the Philippine Root Crop Research and Training Research Center, Visayas State University (VSU-PhilRootcrops).

During the review, Prof. Tambis presented the project’s accomplishments and progress of implementation. To date, the project has conducted trials exploring farmer-friendly approaches related to dormancy-breaking which can be used for expanding the planting period of ubi. The project has also established three sets of trials using minisett technology in different planting periods and distributed more than 30,000 planting materials prepared through minisetts in different parts of Bohol. In addition, the project supported and trained 50 ubi farmers on the adoption of science and technology-based farm practices through on-site training activities.

Moving forward, the team aims to scale up the adoption of improved ubi production technologies, strengthen the supply of quality planting materials, and enhance market linkages among stakeholders. Through sustained S&T interventions and multi-sectoral collaboration, the initiative is expected to contribute to the revitalization and long-term competitiveness of Bohol’s ubi industry.

The activity was led by CRD Director Leilani D. Pelegrina, Program Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) Section Head Kristine Joy P. de Guzman, ISP Manager for Sweetpotato and other Root Crops Rhesa Miren A. Ignacio, Financial Resource Management and Other Services Unit (FRMOSU) Head Jeri Maia C. Reyes, Root Crops Technical Support Staff Marc Vincent D. Jimenez, and key personnel from OED-RD and FAD-Accounting.

The meeting was also attended by S&T Consultant, Dr. Antonio G. Lalusin, and the project team from Visayas State University (VSU) and Bohol Island State University (BISU).