The National Academy of Science and Technology [NAST] has selected two PhilRice researchers to receive the coveted Outstanding Young Scientist [OYS] award on July 10.

They are Dr. Antonio A. Alfonso and Dr. Constancio A. Asis, plant breeder and soil scientist, respectively.

Dr. Leocadio S. Sebastian, outgoing PhilRice executive director who received the same award years earlier, told the OYS screening committee that Dr. Alfonso deserves the award because of his significant contribution towards the molecular basis of understanding cytoplasmic male sterility and fertility restoration in plants. He has also made important innovations in rice breeding in the Philippines, particularly the application of molecular marker technology.

On the other hand, Dr. Asis was selected for his significant achievements in the development of novel approaches in increasing biological nitrogen fixation in legumes and in elucidating the interaction mechanisms of nitrogen fixing bacteria in non-leguminous crops, as well as for his pioneering work on the adoption of leaf color chart as a tool for appropriate application of nitrogen fertilizer.

Dr. Antonio A. Alfonso
“ As a Rockefeller Foundation-sponsored Ph.D. student at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, USA, Dr. Alfonso was instrumental in the cloning and functional characterization of the first nucleus–encoded Restorer of fertility (Rf) gene in plants using petunia as a model species,” said Dr. Sebastian.

Dr. Alfonso’s team provided useful insights into the evolution of gene structure and function, which have practical applications in varietal improvement, especially in the exploitation of hybrid vigor to increase crop yield. These findings are considered by experts as a “critical advance” in elucidating the control of gene expression and interaction between nuclear and cytoplasmic genomes.

Because their work provided crucial clues for the cloning of Rf genes in other plant species, Dr. Alfonso was named as co-inventor in a patent titled “Genes for Altering Mitochondrial Function and for Hybrid Seed Production” from the US Patent and Trademark Office on January 16, 2007.

Using the information he obtained in the petunia system, Dr. Alfonso is now developing DNA markers for the rice Rf gene so that the time and cost for developing superior rice hybrids would be drastically cut down.

Already, Dr. Alfonso has developed several mapping populations for genetic analysis and is using them to validate his candidate PCR-based markers for more efficient selection of Rf-containing plants. He hopes that by identifying the rice Rf genes, he can take a few steps further by designing novel strategies to improve hybrid seed production, which is a major bottleneck in hybrid rice production.

He is also involved in ground-breaking breeding research like: the development of disease-resistant and provitamin A or beta carotene-enriched rice (Golden Rice) for the Philippines using molecular markers; wide hybridization and radiation mutagenesis to find novel sources of genes for resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses.

Dr. Constancio Asis
While he was pursuing the Ph.D. degree under a Mombukagakusho scholarship from the Japanese government, Dr. Asis worked with a frontier project of the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) where he was able to develop a novel technique of increasing nitrogen fixation in legumes through combined inoculation of Rhizobium and helper bacteria. This technique doubles the capacity of the plants to tap atmospheric nitrogen as their source of fertilizer, thereby reducing the use of expensive chemical fertilizers that deplete fossil fuels.

“In his quest to extend nitrogen fixation in non-legumes, Dr. Asis discovered a compound called Trigonelline, a chemo attractant for rhizobia and an active medicinal compound found in rice seeds. The results of this study not only implies the beneficial interaction of rice with nitrogen fixing bacteria, but also proves the benefits derived from drinking rice coffee,” Dr. Sebastian said.

Moreover, Dr. Asis has isolated a nitrogen fixing bacteria Pantoea agglomerans from sugarcane and Enterobacter asburia from sweet potato, which can be used to develop inoculants to improve the growth and yield of non-legumes like vegetables and corn in low input organic crop production.

His pioneering research on the relationship between nitrogen content and leaf color of Philippine rice varieties has resulted in the adoption of leaf color chart [LCC] as a simple and farmer-friendly diagnostic tool for sustainable nitrogen management in irrigated rice. The LCC is now being used nationwide and farmers have been saving at least PPh1,000 on fertilizer inputs before prices spiraled to high heavens.

In addition, he also conducted a pioneering study on the use of LCC for corn. He is currently conducting a study on the use of this tool in rainfed rice production. Furthermore, he is actively involved in educating rice farmers about care for the environment by espousing proper nutrient management.