Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 12.1 Top ten abaca-producing provinces in the Philippines, 2010
currently being done as a concerted effort in addressing the primary problems of the
industry. Breeding programs are being revitalized. In addition, a more flexible
breeding methodology is being adapted to anticipate any shift in demand by the
abaca industry for fibers.
Different plant breeding techniques are employed to develop abaca varieties
possessing desirable traits like high fiber yield, good fiber quality, and high degree
of resistance to major diseases of abaca. Conventional breeding methods are
coupled with recent advances in molecular biology and biotechnology to come up
with a more directed solution to address the disease problem of the industry.
Biotechnologies make it possible to isolate resistance genes from abaca varieties
or wild relatives. With basic knowledge on mechanisms of plant-pathogen interac-
tion, progress in abaca breeding to produce durable resistances is expected to
proceed at a much faster pace. Improved abaca varieties can either be directly
used for commercial planting or as germplasm materials to develop other high-
yielding varieties resistant to various diseases.
Importance of Abaca in the Philippine Economy
Abaca has been grown in the Philippines for centuries and was known to Filipinos
before the Spanish occupation. The crop has been cultivated, processed, and traded,
and abaca products have been used for tax payments. When the Spaniards arrived in
the island of Cebu in 1521, they noted that the natives were wearing clothes made
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