Fresh off winning the silver at the 2025 World’s Best Rice Award in Cambodia, Mabango 3 is proving it is more than just a sensory standout. The aromatic variety, officially known as NSIC Rc218, now boasts another distinction. It performs strongly under oxygen deprived conditions, making it a compelling candidate for direct seeded rice systems where sudden flooding can wipe out newly sown crops.
That finding comes from 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. Researchers from the Philippine Rice Research Institute screened 56 elite lines and 38 released varieties to determine which could germinate, survive, and grow when submerged during the critical early stages of crop establishment.
Direct seeding has gained traction because it reduces labor, shortens planting time, and lowers water use. Farmers sow seeds straight into the field instead of transplanting seedlings.
But the system carries risk. Heavy rains and flash floods can saturate paddies just as seeds begin to sprout, depriving them of oxygen and causing uneven stands or outright crop failure. Flooding remains one of Asia’s most destructive agricultural threats, damaging about a quarter of rice crops each year and shaving measurable percentages off regional yields.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the challenge underscores why breeding climate ready varieties is central to the country’s farm strategy.
“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,” the DA chief said. “Studies like this move us closer to stable harvests and a more secure food future.”
Tiu Laurel’s remarks frame the research not as a laboratory exercise but as a frontline response to climate volatility. “We are lucky our scientists developed Mabango3, it is a gift that continues to give,” he added.
The study zeroed in on anaerobic germination tolerance, a trait that allows rice seeds to elongate and push shoots upward even when oxygen is scarce. Researchers measured percent germination, seedling length, and seedling vigor index under controlled flooded conditions. They also used molecular markers to detect the AG1 locus linked to tolerance, tightening the link between field performance and genetic signature.
NSIC Rc218 emerged as one of the strongest performers, delivering high germination and vigorous seedlings comparable to tolerant checks. It tested positive for AG1 markers, reinforcing its potential both as a farmer ready variety and as a donor parent in breeding programs.
Another standout was NSIC Rc638 SR, a special purpose, non-glutinous variety recently approved for commercial release, which posted an 87 percent germination rate under stress. Breeding line PR52390ILR-2-1-3-B also showed promising results, expanding the pool of materials suited for direct seeding.
As rainfall patterns grow more erratic, grain quality alone is no longer enough. Varieties must combine taste, yield, and the ability to establish under stress. For Mabango 3, already celebrated on the global stage, thriving in scarce oxygen adds a powerful new layer to its appeal and signals a future where resilience is bred into every grain.
