Epagri launches irrigated rice variety tolerant to cold and heat in the reproductive phase

Epagri is launching the 34th variety of irrigated rice on the market, developed to face climate change in southern Brazil: it is tolerant to temperature extremes – cold or heat – in the reproductive phase. This is the SCSBRS126 Dueto, which will be launched at 10 am on Friday, June 23, at the Itajaí Experimental Station, together with the Santa Catarina Irrigated Rice Crop State Assessment event.  

According to researcher Rubens Marschalek, it took 15 years of interinstitutional and multidisciplinary work to develop this variety. “Concerned about the country's food security and faced with threatening climate changes and the consequent increase in the frequency of extreme temperatures, which normally cause damage to crops and reduce productivity, we began studies in the area of ​​rice tolerance to cold and heat. The resilience of the Dueto variety to temperature extremes is evident in the lower grain sterility rates when compared to other Epagri varieties”, highlights Rubens.

The researcher explains that the new variety has a long (late) cycle, excellent productivity, good grain quality for white rice and is suitable for the parboiling process. “Dueto, however, requires attention from the producer from the moment the crop is implemented, as it is necessary to observe the specific recommendations for sowing density and fertilization for this variety, so that the risk of lodging is mitigated”, observes Rubens.

The new variety is recommended for cultivation in a pre-germinated system in all irrigated rice producing regions of Santa Catarina, and is mainly recommended for regions with altitudes above 400m, subject to cold air masses (cold fronts) that cause drops in temperature during rice cultivation.

Origin of the variety name

The SCSBRS126 Dueto is the result of an interinstitutional partnership between Epagri and Embrapa, with the support of UDESC. The name Dueto alludes to this partnership and the dual aptitude of the new variety, which is tolerant to low and high temperatures during the reproductive phase. “Epagri thus expands its range of rice varieties offered to Santa Catarina farmers, so that our agriculture and our producers maintain their competitiveness, increasing production stability”, highlights Rubens.

The name Dueto also aims to recognize two researchers, whose contributions to Brazilian rice farming were relevant, and to whom the launch is dedicated: Orlando Peixoto de Morais (in memoriam), from Embrapa Arroz e Feijão, and Richard Elias Bacha, researcher emeritus from Epagri .

Interinstitutional research

Studies to develop a new rice variety began in 2008 with the support of CNPq and FAPESC, through the financing of two research projects. There was also collaboration from FINEP, PAC-Embrapa, Udesc, Sindarroz-SC and Acapsa.

The SCSBRS126 Dueto variety has a different genetic basis from other Epagri varieties, originating from a crossing (hybridization) carried out by Embrapa in 2008, involving the Irga 424 variety and the Embrapa lineage BRA040081 (BRS Pampa). It remained in the official “Cultivation and Use Value” (VCU) trials in Santa Catarina for five harvests (2017/18-2020/21), showing good agronomic performance and stability. Furthermore, it was evaluated by Embrapa during two harvests (2020/21 and 2021/22) in VCU experiments in Rio Grande do Sul, where it also stood out.

Acquisition of seeds

The SCSBRS126 Dueto is registered and protected with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA). The new variety will also be available to the public during the next harvest, which begins in September, at Epagri's demonstration units and at partner field days. Seeds are now available for the 2023/2024 harvest through the Santa Catarina Association of Irrigated Rice Seed Producers (ACAPSA), with licensed producers.