Ms.Librada L. Fuertes / Sr. Agriculturist

PROJECT DURATION : 5 YEARS

2011 – 2015

PROPONENT(S) : ENGR. ELMER T. FERRY

ACC III/SUPERINTENDENT

: LIBRADA L. FUERTES

SR. AGRICULTURIST

: GUILBERTO L. ANTENERO

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

DA – ROS, PAES, Sta. Monica,

Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

RATIONALE: For the last 30 years, the country has been experiencing the negative effects of ecological imbalance in the uplands caused by the worsening problems of resource depletion, environmental degradation, inequitable distribution and allocation of lands and natural resources, poverty in the upland, the continuous influx of lowland migrants (Developments in Agroforestry Research, PCARRD/DOST1997). Out of 6.5 million hectares of forest land of our country, forest degradation is accounted at 100,000 hectares annually (DENR, 1990).

The province of Palawan although considered as the last frontier is not far from that situation. Currently, many species of plants in the province are in the verge of extinction mainly because of man-made causes. Habitat destruction is the most serious threat to many of Palawan’s endemic plants. The most destructive of which is “kaingin” or slash and burn agriculture where large tract of forest lands are burnt to give way to upland agriculture. In the process, many plants are destroyed including indigenous or endemic plants.

To help in addressing the problem, the Department of Agriculture-Research Outreach Station, Palawan Agricultural Experiment Station (now DA-Palwan Research and Experiment Station) having the development zone of Hillyland, thought of proposing this project in order to preserve/conserve the endemic/indigenous plants in the uplands particularly those that bear fruits for fresh consumption and with medicinal value. There are also identified indigenous plants of banana species which shall also be given concern for they are soon to extinct. In 1998, collection of endemic citrus species had been started by the office and they are now growing and had started bearing fruits.

In this endeavor, it is with high hopes also that a material shall be published featuring some of the endemic collections of the province of Palawan since there are limited materials on this. Also, to have an area where they can be grown for future researches and conservation purpose, as well as source of plant materials should there be efforts to bring them back to the forest to contribute in balancing the ecology.

OBJECTIVES:

To conserve the different strains of endemic/indigenous plants in Palawan

To characterize each as to their pomologic and agronomic characteristics

To data bank gathered information/observation and publish information materials regarding the endemic plants of Palawan.

To serve as destination for educational tours and gene pool of different endemic plants of Palawan.

1. ESTABLISHMENT OF TWO GENEBANK SITES:

Palawan – known for its rich flora and fauna has unique bio-diversity. The province has two distinct climates – the southern side has most frequent rainfall and is considered the food basket of the province and the northern side having hot weather condition and tourism side of the province.

Southern side has agro-climatic condition different from Puerto Princesa that is the reason why two areas were considered for the establishment of gene pool and nursery of these plants – the DA-PAES area and the Rural Agricultural Center (RAC) Abo-Abo, Espanola, Palawan.

In DA-PAES, there are three planting sites,

a) at the backside,

b) within the multi-storey plants providing shade and climbing material to vine forming plants, and;

c) near the cashew area for the banana species.

2. Collaboration activities such as: Meeting with LGU’s such as Municipal Agriculturists, Barangay officials and Indigenous People to help identify the possible source of these plants in their areas.

3. After which, land clearing followed as part of the preparation for crop establishment for two sites.

Initial activities conducted were collaboration with LGUs such as Municipal Agriculturists, Barangay officials and Indigenous People to help identify the possible source of these plants in their areas. After which, land clearing as part of the preparation for crop establishment was conducted. Preparatory activities for two sites are as follows:

AREA/S ACTIVITIES Date

A. DA-PAES 1. Land Preparation June, 2011

2. Field Lay-out and

holing

July, 2011

3. Initial crop planting August, 2011

4. Nursery

establishment

October 1, 2011

A. ABO-ABO RAC 1. Land Preparation

2. Field Lay-out October 27, 2011

3. Nursery

Establishment

August, 2011

4. Planting Octobrer 29, 2011

In terms of plants established, Table 1 provides the details:

1. DA-PAES SITE KIND PIECES

PLANTED

PLACE COLLECTED DATE PLANTED CONTACT PERSON

1. Maraetem 21 WPU, Aborlan August 04, 2011 All plants taken from

2. Badak 22 WPU, Aborlan August 04, 2011 WPU, Aborlan was

3. Kulimawa 22 WPU, Aborlan August 05, 2011 Sourced – out from

4. Mante 20 WPU, Aborlan August 08, 2011 Dr. Lerum

5. Durian - Red 22 WPU, Aborlan August 08, 2011

6. Usaw 16 WPU, Aborlan August 10, 2011

7. Tabo

34 WPU, Aborlan September 13, 2011

8. Sagit-sagit 28 WPU, Aborlan September 13, 2011

9. Mundo Banana 20 Brooke’s Point August 22, 2011 Nenita Valencia

50 Brooke’s Point September 01, 2011 Nenita Valencia

9. Calamandarin

(Seedlings)

11 Pajara, Sta.

Monica, PPCity

August 17, 2011 Lucila Cabanillas

10. Bisbis – small (grafted) 8 Abo-Abo,

Espanola

August 17, 2011 Osmundo

Simbulan

11. Bisbis – small

(grafted)

6 Abo-Abo,

Espanola

October 11, 2011 Osmundo

Simbulan

12. Bisbis (big) 6 Abo-abo,

Espanola

October 11, 2011 Osmundo

Simbulan

13. Etban (grafted) 6 Abo-Abo,

Espanola

October 11, 2011 Osmundo

Simbulan

14. Kano 8 Abo-Abo,

Espanola

August 17, 2011 DA-PAES, PPCity

TOTAL 373

KIND NO. OF PIECES PLACE

COLLECTED

DATE PLANTED CONTACT

PERSON

15. MANTI 15 Aborlan,

Palawan

October 29,

2011

16. Maraetem 13 Aborlan,

Palawan

Octrober 29,

2011

17. Durian Red 14 WPU, Aborlan,

Palawan

same Dr. Lerum

18. BadaK 10 same same Dr. Lerum

19. Bunog 10 same same same

20. Usaw 14 same same same

21. Palaw

Sagit-sagit

66

4. Leaf characterization was also conducted. Some fruits were also evaluated to determine their Total Soluble Solids (TSS) or degree of sweetness. They are also further evaluated for their economic value.

For the two sites, more than 3 hectares are being maintained serving as gene pool of this project.

5. Some seedlings were potted for distribution in 2014. Collection of seeds and seedlings are still being done in preparation for treeplanting next year. The activity has been collaborated with the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development.

Crops establishment/Field lay-out

Crops planted on Field

1. DA-PAES SITE

2. ABO ABO SITE

MARAETEM

Leaf Shape - Elliptical Leaf Arrangement – Spiral Leaf Venation - Arcuate Leaf Margin - Entire Leaf Apex - Acuminate Leaf Base - Obtuse Length Average - 11.08 cm. Width Average – 3.53 cm.

MANTE

a) Leaf Shape - Oblong b) Leaf Arrangement – Pinnately Alternate c) Leaf Venation – Arcuate d) Leaf Margin - Entire e) Leaf Apex – Acuminate f) Leaf Base - Obtuse g) Length - Average - 10.7 cm. h) Width - Average - 4.2 cm

USAW

a). Leaf Shape - Elliptical b) Leaf Arrangement – Pinnately Alternate c) Leaf Venation – Arcuate d) Leaf Margin – Entire e) Leaf Apex – Acuminate f) Leaf Base – Obtuse g) Length – Average – 10.8 h) Width – Average – 3.64

BADAK

a) Leaf Shape - Oval b) Leaf Arrangement – Pinnately Alternate c) Leaf Venation - Arcuate d) Leaf margin - Repand e) Leaf Apex - Cuspidate f) Leaf Base - Obtuse g) Length Average – 11.5 cm. h) Width Average – 6.0 cm.

KULIMAWA

a) Leaf Shape - Oblong b) Leaf Arrangement – Pinnately Opposite c) Leaf Venation – Arcuate d) Leaf Margin – Entire e Leaf Apex - Acuminate f) Leaf Base – Obtuse g) Length Average – 11.49 cm. h) Width Average – 4.76 cm.

DURIAN- RED

Leaf Shape - Oblong Leaf arrangement – Pinnately Alternate Leaf Venation – Acuate Leaf Margin - Entire Leaf Apex – Acuminate Leaf Base – Obtuse Length average – 15 cm. Width average – 4.6

PALAW SAGIT-SAGIT

a) Leaf Shape - Oblong b) Leaf Arrangement – Pinnately opposite c) Leaf Venation – Arcuate d) Leaf Margin – Entire e) Leaf Apex – Acuminate f) Leaf Base – Obtuse g) Length Average – 12.9 cm. h) Width Average – 5.2 cm.

TABO ( Vine)

a). Leaf Shape – Oblong b) Leaf Arrangement – Pinnately opposite c) Leaf Venation – Arcuate

d) Leaf Margin – Entire

e) Leaf Apex – Cuspidate f) Leaf Base – Obtuse g) Length Average – 12.5 cm h) Width Average – 5.2

KANO

a) Leaf shape - Longipetiolate b) Leaf Arrangement – Pinnately Alternate c) Leaf Venation – Arcuate d) Leaf Margin – Sinuate e) Leaf Apex – Obtuse f) Leaf Base – Obtuse g) average length – 11.79 cm. h) Average width – 3.62 cm.

BISBIS

a) Leaf Shape – brevipetiolate b) Leaf Arrangement – Pinnately alternate c) Leaf Venation – Arcuate d) Leaf Margin – Sinuate e) Leaf Apex – Obtuse f)Leaf Base – Obtuse g)Average length – 6.78 cm. h) Average width – 3.23 cm

CALAMANDARIN

a) Leaf Shape – Ovate b) Leaf arrangement – Pinnately alternate c) Leaf Venation – Arcuate d) Leaf Margin – Doubly Serrate e) Leaf Apex – Obtuse f) Leaf Base – Obtuse g) Average Length – 7.03 cm. h) Average width – 3.79 cm.

BALISANGKAD FRUIT

FRUIT EVALUATION

Total Soluble Solids (TSS) - 29%

Length - 2.5 cm

Width - 1.2 cm

Height - 0.85 cm

Pulp thickness - 0.4 mm

FRUITING SEASON

COLOR

SHAPE

SKIN

TASTE

SMELL

AVERAGE WEIGHT

AVERAGE FLESH THICKNESS

AVERAGE SEED WEIGHT

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER

Yellow /Brown/Orange

Round

Rough

Super sour

Odorless

5.13

2.9

0.84

LIPSO

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER FRUITING SEASON

Pinkish/Brown COLOR

Fine SKIN

Round SHAPE

Sour TASTE

5.10 AVERAGE LENGTH

5.50 AVERAGE WIDTH

1.35 AVERAGE PULP THICKNESS

78.18 TOTAL WEIGHT

0.62 AVERAGE FLESH THICKNESS

PARATONGON/KARATUNGON

FRUITING SEASON

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER

TASTE Sour

SKIN Rough/shell like/plastic like

COLOR Red

SHAPE Elongated

SMELL None

AVERAGE LENGTH 6.36

AVERAGE WIDTH 3.07

SKIN Rough/shell like/plastic like

COLOR Red

SHAPE Elongated

SMELL None

Indigenous banana plants had started flowering and fruiting. These are:

A. Mundo

B. Tandok

“TANDOK BANANA”

GOOD EATING QUALITY AVERAGE WT. (.9 – 1.5 Kgs.per pc

OUR NEW COLLECTION

Palaw Sagit-sagit, grows luxuriantly among the vine plants, Tabo on the other hand has stunted growth. The plan of transferring it is being considered.

OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

1. CENRO requested more than 500 plants for their replanting activity in Brgys.Luzviminda and Mangingisda.

Also requested that they will be part in our tree planting plan for 2012.

COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME Usaw Nephelium lappaseum

Palaw (sagit-sagit) Willughbeia sarawacensis

Badak Artocarpus champenden

Bunog Garcinia benthani

Maraetem Nephelium sp.

Lipso Chisocheton sp.

Through the help of Dr. Lerum of WPU

At present more or less 518 indigenous/endemic plants of different species had been planted to more or less 3.0 has in two sites.

These plants will be one of the attractions once the DA-ROS, PAES will open the office to be the new destination of tourists in the province of Palawan.

Information Education and Communication

Materials (IEC) are ready for distribution to public for information and identification.

TANDOK BANANA MUNDO BANANA

TABO TABO

PALAW SAGIT-SAGIT

PALAW SAGIT-SAGIT

MANTI MARAETEM (Nephelium mutabile) BALISANGKAD KULIMAWA Nephelium

spp.

RED DURIAN PARATUNGON

BUNOG

MARARENG BULNO

Artocarpus champenden

BADAK ALABYED

1. Funds should be provided for the maintenance of these collections. These are very precious plants which form part of the rich biodiversity of the province and should be protected for our future use and generation next to us.

2. Other government agencies can help in the

identification of new sites for expansion particularly those whose thrust is on the protection of our forest natural resources.

3. Promotion as exotic food. All fruits can be made

into wine and some can be made into jams and jellies, the DA-ROS, PAES and WPU have processing facility where Research and Development section can find ways on how these plants can be processed for value adding.