H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Siridhorn granted the name “Thanyasirin” to new blast-resistant glutinous rice. The newly-developed rice was a joint effort among scientists from Kasetsart University, Rice Department, Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna Lampang and BIOTEC.
Thanyasirin took four years to develop, from 2002 to 2006, using marker-assisted breeding technique to achieve the new rice with grain and cooking quality as superb as RD6, the famous glutinous jasmine rice, and an ability to resist rice blast disease. RD6, popularly grown by farmers in rain-fed lowland, is highly susceptible to Pyricularia oryzae, a fungus causing blast disease. The blast-resistant rice would not only improve the rice productivity, but also minimize or eliminate the use of fungicides.
In the past three years, Thayasirin has been undergoing intensive field trials in 5 provinces, namely Nan, Lampang, Chiang Rai, Chaiyaphum and Sakon Nakhon, providing an average yield of 800 kg/rai (5 tonnes/hectare).