Dr. Reynante L. Ordonio

The overall objective is to select the lead transgenic line with high
dietary Fe and Zn (HIZR) in polished rice, with desirable
agronomic performance, suitable for future multi-location trials.

The specific objectives are:

1. To evaluate the agronomic performance and Fe and Zn
trait of ten (10) lines each from two (2) High Fe and Zn
rice (HIZR) events, previously tested in the confined
facility at PhilRice in 2018 to 2019 (DOST-BC Ref no.
2018-0313). The transgenic events contain the Fe
storage protein ferritin gene from Malus baccata-ApFer
(DOST-BC Ref No. 2014-0281), and Fe chelator
biosynthesis gene from rice- OsNAS2 (DOST-BC Ref
No. 2007-0221).

2. To determine the Fe and Zn concentrations in the
polished grains of evaluated lines.

3. To select the best lines among the events for future
advancement.

The transgenic site is inside the PhilRice-Batac Station.
This area has been used previously for confined test of high Iron
and high Zinc biofortified materials DOST-BC Ref no. 2018-0313).
It is a gated facility.

? The confined test area will be accessed only by the authorized staff who are directly involved in the experiment (Annex 9). For additional labor and activities
done by PhilRice Experimental Field or other contract workers, a regular, authorized personnel will be present to ensure adherence to biosafety protocols. Only DOST-BC-approved visitors could access the site.

? Temporal and physical isolation of the materials from the cultivated rice planted in nearby fields will be observed.

? Transgenic material handling such as transfer and disposal will be done in accordance to the guideline set
by PhilRice Biosafety Office, the IBC and BPI-PEQS as monitoring arm of the DOST-BC.