7/30/2019 RT Vol. 12, No. 1 Marriage respects no boundaries

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to know who her life partner willbe. The groom, who comes from anelite group, is as proud as ever tosire a celebrity noted for the familyscapacity to give high grain yield.

The ceremony begins withoutchurch bells, but barely introducingthe groom as a golden yellow pollen

grain, released by the burning sunfrom its hideaway. With a mute I do,the bride receives him with wide-openarms.

The newlyweds are veiled andbound together, and the traditionalwedding ringsimply a brightlycolored merchandising tag with apiece of silvery string and a lead-coated paper clipis pulled out.Inscribed on the tag are the commonnames of the newlyweds. This is theirmarriage contract, a contract signed

by both parties without an expirationdate.

The ceremony is nally overnowedding cake, doves, or bountifulfood for the invited guests. Thehoneymooners do not go to a ve-starhotel. They are left in a dark corner ofthe greenhouse after being coveredwith glassine bags, locked with apaper clip. But, this union will be thestart of something biggenerations ofrice varieties that are not hindered by

boundaries.

Mr. Herrera was among the frst breedersto make crosses at IRRI in the early 1960s(photo above). He arrived at IRRI in 1961as a research aide and retired 36 years laterin 1997 as a senior assistant scientist.

Innocent-looking rice plants alsoengage in courtship and marriage.

The rites are simple, devoid of anelegant and expensive entourage.

The bride, the superstar of theoccasion, is not in the usual weddinggown. She is simply a dark green riceplant with owers stripped o itsanthers, the male counterpart of thespecies.

When rice ower buds are stillempty of their stored starch, bothmale and female parts are in theower, producing self-fertilizedseeds. To prevent self-pollination,castration by removing the maleparts by tweezers is a requisite. Only

at this point will the rice plant betransformed into an instant bride.

Before the cool evening is over,the bride is locked in a plastic bagto protect her from intruders. She isin seclusion, awaiting her princecharming during the long, hauntingnight. At daybreak, as the sun kissesthe rice owers and the morning dewshies away to join the rain clouds,the innocent bride sees hope forrejoicinga break from her solitary

by Rizal M. Herrera

connement. Overjoyed to meetthe groom, she sneaks through thetransparent glassine bag, but, to herdisappointment, she nds no one.

The sun radiates more of itsinexhaustible energy, unmindful ofthe dark clouds blocking its eortsto force the sleepy groom out of itscapsule. After a long extended wait,here comes the groom; not thebride, excited, puzzled, and eager

marriage respects no

boundarIesWhat really happens when cross-breeding rice

19Rice TodayJanuary-March 2013

IRRI plant breeder Dr. Ge Gregorio (left)discusses he 100,000h cross wih formerIRRI breeder Mr. Riz Herrer.

irri

chris

quintana