Dioscoro Umali

WHO IS
DIOSCORO
 Was born on November 17, 1917, in
LOPEZ
 Biñan, Laguna
UMALI?
 BS Agronomy/Agriculture, UPLB(1939)
 Ph. D Genetics and Plant Breeding, Cornell
University (1949)
 Ph.D. in Agriculture and Rural Development
 “Father of Philippine Plant Breeding”
 WHAT
MAKES
 Had a less fortunate life
DIOSCORO
 Helped family by selling rice
LOPEZ  Baggage boy or the “kargador”
UMALI  He first wanted to go to a
DIFFERENT?  Nauticalschool
 His time as dean was referred to as The Umali Years
(1959-1969)
 Passion to serve those in the agrarian sector 
 Charisma in dealing with his colleagues and employees.
CONTRIBUTIONS:

 Strengthened Plant Breeding in the Philippines

Dr Umali headed and organized the Division of Plant breeding after his return to the Philippines in 1948.
During his tenure as head, plant breeding bloomed into one of the most important fields in applied sciences
in the country.

 Breeding of Mussaenda
Also in 1948, Dr Umali spearheaded the development of different varieties of Mussaenda philippica.
Mussaenda philippieca is a variety of Mussaenda, a mostly ornamental flowering shrub found commonly in
the African and Asian tropics.
 Improvement of Abaca
In the 1950s, Dr Umali was a part of the Abaca Varietal Improvement Program. During this program, Dr Umali was involved
with several research projects about abaca. Dr Umali partnered with Dr James Brewbaker in order to fully understand the
Musa species, of which abaca is a variety. Dr Umali identified relatives of abaca such as Pacol, “Agotay,” and Musa ornata
as sources of resistance to abaca bunchytop and mosaic virus, the major diseases of abaca then and even up to now. Dr
Umali and Dr Brewbaker made F1 hybrids of varying resistance against the diseases from crosses of abaca with their
relatives. However, their F1 hybrids produced crosses that had good qualities for pulp and paper but not fiber quality.

 Improvements of rice and corn

In 1949, Dr Umali engaged in the breeding and selection of superior rice varieties and the development of hybrids which
were resilient to Philippine conditions. Nine years later, his efforts with these endeavours produced 14 outstanding rice
varieties and five outstanding corn hybrids which were approved and recommended by the Philippine Seed Board.
Dr Umali also valued the welfare of the farmers; because of this, Dr Umali studied the factors affecting rice seed dormancy
and germination as well as milling recovery. Dr Umali recommended the improvement of the country’s rice mills because he
first pointed out that the 40-50 percent milling recovery was due to inefficient kiskisan mills widely used in the country at
that time.
 Improvement of fruit varieties
Dr Umali developed the local fruit germplasm as well as the local food industry. He developed different varieties of
rambutan, durian, citrus, mangoes, tamarind, jackfruit, atis, manzanilla, and the golden coconut. Five commercial varieties
of rambutan in the Philippines today were seedling varieties selected by Dr Umali. One of which even bears his name the
DLU Maharlika. The DLU Maharlika serves as the benchmark of high quality rambutan—sweet, juicy, and tuklapin which
means the flesh is not attached to and is easily removed from the seed.

 Coconut research and makapuno

Dr Umali showed a particular fondness for the genetics and production of makapuno, the endosperm mutant of the coconut.
In 1953, he and his student L Zuniga showed that the inheritance of makapuno-bearing trees followed the Mendelian law by
using controlled pollination of makapuno-bearing trees. Thus, the makapuno condition is gene-controlled. Since the
makapuno nut does not germinate, it is not possible to obtain makapuno seedlings from the nut itself. Because of their
efforts along with those of Dr Emerita V De Guzman, makapuno trees grown all over the country now have the potential to
produce 100% makapuno nuts just by careful cross-pollination.

 Creation of multiple agricultural institutions

He also established the Philippine Seed Board and the Rice and Corn Production Coordinating Council of the Philippines.
He was also involved in the creation of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the Dairy Training and Research
Institute (DTRI) and the Agrarian Reform Institute (ARI).
 RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS
Dioscoro Umali and his sheer dedication in studying the breeding of
rice, corn, abaca and massaenda contributed to our Philippine
agriculture. All of his contributions were recognized by the University of
the Philippines Los Banos and was awarded the “Most Outstanding
and Distinguished Alumnus” and “Distinguished and Outstanding
Alumnus of the Philippines for Agriculture.” His commendable
services and achievements were acknowledged, and he became a
recipient of innumerable awards:
 Recipient of five Honoris causa degrees from national and international universities and more that 100 testimonials and
recognitions

 Outstanding Achievement and Leadership in Rice and Corn Research conferred by former President Carlos P. Garcia
(December 1953)

 Recognized in a citation “In appreciation and gratitude for assistance rendered in the spirit of scientific science and
social cooperation” from the Philippine Federation of Fruit Growers (April 1961)

 Distinguished and Outstanding Alumnus of the University of the Philippines for Agriculture (April 1963)

 Award for “Exemplary services in the line of economics” from the Laguna Lions Club (March 1965)

 Distinguished Educator and Scholar Meritissimus, International Academy off Leadership, First International Congress of
Doctorates, Manila (1969)

 Awarded “for his valued support, cooperation, and contributions to the development of the wood industries” from the
Philippine Chamber: Wood Industries, Manila (April 1965)

 Outstanding Services: Food Production and Rural Reconstruction Movement” from FAQ Rome (November 1965)

 Philcost Award “in recognition of his outstanding achievement in the improvement of rice and corn and other economic
plants through plant breeding and exemplary leadership in agricultural research” from the Philippines Council of Science
and Technology (October 1966)
 Award “for the invaluable contribution he has given to the promotion of agricultural education by organizing the
Association of Colleges of Agriculture of the Philippines” from Siliman University, Dumaguete City (January 1968)

 Gold Medal Award as “Katangi-tanging Mamamayan sa Larangan ng Pagsasaka” from Sangguniang Bayan in Binan
Laguna (1973)

 PANTAS Award “for his contribution to the advancement of agricultural research in the country” from the Philippine
Council for Agriculture and Resources Research (November 1977)

 Outstanding Services in Food Production and Rural Reconstruction Movement, FAO- Rome (1965)

 Likas Yaman Award, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (1990)

 ISEE R&D Linker Award, Indian Society of Extension Education, New Delhi (1991)

 Sinag-Buhay Award, Philippine Agricultural Economics and Development Associations, Inc. (1991)

 Outstanding Filipino Award, Philippine Jaycee Senate (1992)

Undeniably, Dioscoro Umali did not only excel in the field of Agriculture but also in his academics, leadership skills,
and notable social cooperation. He played an essential role in the society, his remarkable service contributed to the
development of our Agriculture that which we all benefit from today.
 THANK YOU!

Submitted by: Malit, Angela R.