Experts from the University of the Philippines-Los Banos (UPLB) are now working double time to develop a strain of abaca that is resistant to the bunchy-top virus, the nemesis of 1.5 million Filipinos who cultivate it.

Dr. Anton Lalusin heads the team that is rushing the propagation of the new strain of abaca that has good fiber qualities and is resistant to the virus, which stunts the growth of the plant and destroys the fiber.

The Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) spearheads the work on the new strain of abaca, known scientifically as Musa textilis, which generates annual export sales of $76 million.

Actually, Lalusin said, the team succeeded in producing a bunchy-top virus resistant plant but its fiber quality was not at par with that derived from the pure bred plants.

They have cultivated abaca anew and harvest of the new plants may come next month. They hope the new batch would not only be resistant to the bunchy-top virus but would also have good fiber.

Work on abaca has been encouraged by the Department of Agriculture (DA), which sees great potential in abaca, which enjoys good demand from car manufacturers, currency makers, rope and twine producers and factories that have resorted to using natural ingredients.

Abaca fiber, also known as Manila hemp, is utilized mostly by vehicle manufacturers in Europe as substitute for fiberglass in automobile interiors.

The Philippines enjoys domination of the abaca market, controlling 85 percent of all fiber supplies in the world, with Ecuador a poor second at 15 percent.

Abaca is indigenous to the Philippines, particularly in Mindanao's Caraga Region.

The Biotechnology Information and Organization Network (BIONet) in the Caraga Region is awaiting the results of Lalusin's work, which is crucial to the massive production of abaca by farmers, along with papaya, which is coveted by cosmetics and pharmaceutical companies worldwide.

A BIONet Center will be launched in Butuan City on July 3, in time for the BIONet National Council's two-day third quarter meeting scheduled to start on the same day at the Balanghai Hotel and Convention Center. - biolife news service