Research

Papaya Ringspot Virus-Resistant PAPAYA

Papaya, largely grown as a home garden crop, is an important commercial crop for growers in the Philippines, as well as a source of home-produced vitamins and minerals for many households. Papain, a substance found in papaya, is widely used as the main component in the manufacture of cosmetics, including soaps and shampoos. The crop, however, is susceptible to the Papaya Ringspot Virus (PRSV), which deforms fruits, rendering them inedible. ABSP II aims to develop and commercialize transgenic papaya resistant to PRSV.

Fruit-and-shoot-borer-resistant EGGPLANT

The eggplant is one of the most important vegetables consumed in South Asia and the Philippines. In the latter region, eggplant production accounts for 28% of the total volume of vegetables, which amounted to a total of 179,000 metric tons in 2002. Its value of production is the highest among the leading vegetables, with the crop planted over more than 20,000 hectares. Average yields, however, are low due to chronically high infestations of fruit and shoot borer, the most serious pest of eggplant. In the Philippines, damage by this pest results in yield losses from 54% to 70%, and with no available commercial varieties resistant to the pests. ABSP II aims to develop and commercialize transgenic openpollinated fruit and shoot borerresistant eggplant for resourcelimited farmers in India, Bangladesh, and the Philippines.