To help curb the rising cases of diabetes globally, scientists from IRRI have identified the genes responsible for low and ultra-low glycaemic index (GI) in rice. This discovery will be able to convert popular rice varieties into low and ultra-low GI for refined white rice, through conventional breeding methods, keeping high-quality grain and without compromising yield.
The first batch of ultra-low GI rice samples, developed from the Samba Mahsuri x IR36ae, was formally presented to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. at the opening ceremony of the 6th International Rice Congress.
IRRI has previously identified two low GI Philippine varieties, IRRI 147 and IRRI 125, that were already released in the Philippines as salt-tolerant varieties. Based on clinical validation on human volunteers in a cohort study, IRRI 147 depicted a GI value of 55 and IRRI 125 had a GI value of 51.1.
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