A recent seed hunting trip to Pang Daeng village in Chiang Mai Province paid off for Lue Chompoothong, ECHO Asia's Seed Bank Technician, and Ruth Tshin, Volunteer Seed Bank Consultant.  Helpful community residents shared seeds of local sorghum, okra and bush-type long bean varieties for possible inclusion among crops to be promoted by the ECHO Asia Seed Bank.

At ECHO Asia's Seed Bank facility, 90 kilometers north of Pang Daeng, a variety trial of numerous crops, including winged bean, lima bean, vegetable lablab bean, okra and egg plant, is being conducted on an array of raised beds.  In a nearby compact building that houses the office and areas for seed processing and storage, an electric drier is forcing off the last bit of moisture from a few batches of seed.  Nearby, ECHO intern Phoebe Mbuvi is preparing a germination test of seeds which have been subjected to experimental vacuum storage.

Work on the seed bank began on the campus of the Upland Holistic Development Project in early 2009.  With a few dozen species of green manure cover crops, nitrogen fixing trees, vegetables and oil crops currently being evaluated, ECHO Asia hopes to have several varieties ready for distribution by the end of 2010.  A few regionally unfamiliar crops, such as grain amaranth, are being tested for possible inclusion.  However, the main focus is to evaluate various food crops of regional economic, nutritional and/or cultural importance; particularly those that are less utilized and difficult to locate.

Over the coming months ECHO Asia will provide occasional updates about the ongoing development of the seed bank.  And once seed distribution begins, the seed bank web page, http://www.echonet.org/content/regionalOfficeSeedBank, will be your source of information related to:

• Seed bank  variety descriptions

• Directions for ordering seeds

• Seed saving tips and other relevant information.

Meanwhile, we'll keep you posted.

Lingering soil salinity continues to make rice production difficult in certain districts of Myanmar's Irrawaddy Delta as a result of massive saltwater inundation during Cyclone Nargis in 2008.  In response, plant breeders with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) have recently announced the availability of salt tolerant rice varieties for the affected region.

Dr. R.K. Singh, Senior Scientist (Regional Plant Breeding Coordinator for Eastern and Southern Africa) for IRRI's Plant Breeding Genetics & Biotechnology Division reports that IRRI has been in regular contact with Myanmar's Department of Agriculture Research (DAR) and Ministry of Agriculture Science (MAS).  Additionally, IRRI has been regularly supplying salinity-tolerant rice varieties and advanced lines for these institutions to test.

According to Dr. Singh, photosensitive landraces (varieties adapted to the environment in which they have originated or are grown), such as Hnan-Kar and Letyonegyi, have been traditionally grown in the saline soils of Myanmar.   Additionally, a few salt tolerant varieties have been released by local institutions.  However, unable to tolerate high salinity, these new varieties are reportedly not very adaptable.

In late November, Dr. Glenn Gregorio, IRRI's Senior Scientist and Rice Breeder for salinity tolerance, informed ECHO Asia that promising salt tolerant rice varieties/breeding lines at IRRI are ready for testing in Myanmar.  With some varieties already sent to DAR and MAS, according to Dr. Gregorio, seeds of these salt tolerant varieties can be sent to any group in Myanmar that is willing to test their adaptability.  

"We just need a seed import permit from Myanmar so we can process the transfer," explains Gregorio.

To inquire further about the availability of the salt tolerant rice varieties, contact Dr. Gregorio at g.gregorio@cgiar.org.