Semi-dwarf IR36

Semi-dwarf IR36 is a hybrid rice variety developed by Gurdev Khush.

History

By cross-breeding IR8 with 13 parent varieties from six nations, Dr. Khush developed IR36, a semi-dwarf variety that proved highly resistant to a number of the major insect pests and diseases that raised farmers' rice yields and drove down prices of the staple food for Asian families.[1] IR36 matures rapidly – 105 days compared to 130 days for IR8 and 150–170 days for traditional types – and produces the slender grain preferred in many countries. The combination of these characteristics soon made IR36 one of the most widely planted food crop varieties worldwide in just a few years. About 110,000 km² were planted with IR36 worldwide in 1981,[2] a success which Dr. Khush topped with IR64 and again with IR72 in 1990.

The variety was one of many of the Green Revolution which replaced many local strains and genetic diversity previously found in rice paddies. It is estimated that over 100,000 local strains were grown in 1960, which have been largely replaced by hybrid varieties.

References
  1. "How do you develop a new crop variety by conventional breeding". B4FA - Biosciences for Farming in Africa. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 13, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  2. Dalrymple, Dana G. (1986). "SUMMARY OF AREA ESTIMATES". Development and Spread of High-Yielding Rice Varieties in Developing Countries (PDF). Office of Agriculture, Bureau for Science and Technology, U.S. Agency for International Development. p. 103. ISBN 9711041596. LCCN 86-71411.

Further reading
  • "IR36" (PDF). lnternational Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Retrieved October 2, 2019. (undated)
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