RiceTec Research and Improvement Program launches cultivar XP117

High production costs continue to be a challenge for rice farmers in the 2019/20 harvest, which is estimated by the National Supply Company (Conab) at 10,4 million tons. To overcome the different bottlenecks that the activity imposes on rice producers, whether in Rio Grande do Sul or any other producing region, RiceTec invests in research to bring seeds to the market with genetic material that will bring results in the crop.

RiceTec's Research and Improvement program's main objective is to develop hybrid rice cultivars with high productive potential and adequate grain quality for Mercosur countries. To this end, the program routinely carries out multi-environmental yield trials and various assessments to determine the resistance of its experimental hybrids to the different biotic and abiotic stresses present in irrigated rice cultivation.

To achieve maximum efficiency in their activity, rice producers need to plan their crops very well. In this sense, diversifying materials and the type of seed you will use can greatly reduce risks, especially those caused by the climate.

For the 2019/20 harvest, RiceTec plans to launch the XP117 hybrid, a hybrid with high production potential, medium cycle (approximately 135 days), high initial vigor and tillering capacity, tolerant to lodging. The new cultivar was presented during the XI Brazilian Irrigated Rice Congress, held in August, in Camboriú (SC). Regarding grain quality characteristics, XP117 has a good yield of whole grains, on average 62%, low plastered area, high amylose content and low gelatinization temperature, desirable characteristics for excellent cooking.

Faced with an activity so sensitive to weather phenomena, experts suggest “distributing eggs on Fridays”. In other words, to minimize losses, the suggested formula is to diversify, especially when choosing seeds.

In the last harvest, numerous large-scale tests were carried out in Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Uruguay, using the side-by-side comparison method with the main local varieties. XP117 had an excellent performance, winning in practically all locations, reaching, on average, 14.000 kg/ha. Seeds of the XP117 variety are already being sold, however, in limited quantities for the next harvest.