AROMATIC rice variety Mabango 3, or Dinorado, which recently won silver at the 2025 World’s Best Rice Award, was found to thrive in flood-prone, direct-seeded farming systems, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Wednesday.
The findings were reported in a study published in the February 2026 issue of the Philippine Journal of Science, titled “Anaerobic Germination Tolerance Trait of Philippine Rice Elite Lines and Varieties for Direct Seeding.”
The study said that the Dinorado variety — or NSIC Rc218 — has high anaerobic germination tolerance. It means its seeds can germinate and grow even in oxygen-deprived water, which is common during flash floods.
Researchers from the Philippine Rice Research Institute screened 56 elite lines and 38 released varieties to identify which could germinate, survive and grow while submerged in oxygen-deprived waters during the critical early stages of crop development such as direct-seeding.
The researchers used molecular markers to detect the presence of the AG1 locus — the gene linked to anaerobic germination tolerance, which allows it to grow without air.
“NSIC Rc218 emerged as one of the strongest performers, delivering high germination and vigorous seedlings comparable to tolerant checks,” said the DA. “It tested positive for AG1 markers, reinforcing its potential both as a [farmer-ready] variety and as a donor parent in breeding programs.”
Another top performer, NSIC Rc638 SR — a special-purpose, non-glutinous variety recently approved for commercial release — recorded an 87-percent germination rate under flooded conditions.
Breeding line PR52390ILR-2-1-3-B also showed strong results, adding to varieties that may be fit for direct seeding.
Unlike the traditional method of transplanting seeds, direct-seeding sows the grains straight into the field. This reduces labor, shortens planting time and lessens water use.
However, the DA said direct-seeding is not free of risks. Heavy rains and flash floods can swamp fields when seeds are just starting to sprout, depriving them of oxygen and resulting in uneven stands or complete crop loss.
Flooding remains one of the most destructive agricultural hazards in Asia, damaging roughly 25 percent of rice crops annually and reducing regional yields significantly.
“If we want to increase rice production while strengthening climate resilience and food security, we must invest in varieties that can survive real field conditions, not just ideal ones,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said. “Studies like this move us closer to stable harvests and a more secure food future.”
Rather than just a lab exercise, Tiu Laurel sees the study as a frontline response to climate volatility. “We are fortunate that our scientists created Mabango 3,” he said.