The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) recently approved a project titled, “Field Verification of Natural Fungicide from Tasmannia piperita (Hook. F.) Miers against Alternaria brassicae of Lettuce and Phytophtora infestans of Tomato.”

In connection with the project, DOST-PCAARRD recently conducted an inception meeting and field monitoring visit for the newly approved project under the leadership of Dr. Victor B. Amoroso at the Central Mindanao University (CMU), Musuan, Bukidnon.

The project aims to conduct field verification of natural fungicide from Tasmannia piperita (Hook.f.) Miers, a primitive dicot plant which grows in exposed ridges and peaks of high altitude mossy forests. The project also aims to establish nurseries for the mass propagation of T. piperita through seeds, wildlings and in vitro culture.

According to Dr. Amoroso, natural fungicide from T. piperita is environment-friendly, cheap and locally available. This claim is based on the results of various studies on T. piperita which was screened using aqueous extracts from its leaves.

Plants of T. piperita are found in high mountain ecosystem like Mt. Apo and Mt. Kitanglad. Over-collection of this plant might deplete the population if the fungicide will be produced in large scale from T. piperita. Thus, there is a need to mass propagate the plant through seedlings in the nursery or by tissue culture as source of the fungicide.

As part of the dissemination, the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) in Kidapawan will provide the seedlings to farmer-cooperators for their plantation and to be sold as source of plants for high pesticide fungicide production.

The research team hopes to widen their scale by training farmers in the propagation of T. piperita, as well as provide livelihood for the local communities.