IPB and PTRI explore the potential of abaca as a textile

Earlier this year, University of the Philippines Los Baños’ Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) held its first-ever International Plant Breeding Conference at The Manila Hotel as part of its 50th founding anniversary celebration.

- YVETTE TAN

The two-day conference brought together some of the world’s most respected plant breeding experts and personalities. One of the highlights of the program was a fashion show showcasing abaca fabric held in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology — Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) and the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development.

Called “KatHABI: Textile Innovation Fashion Show x IPB Abaca Hybrid,” it featured garments made from an IPB-developed abaca hybrid blended with other locally sourced natural fibers.

AVANT GARDENER

I spoke with PTRI Director Dr. Julius Leaño, Jr. about the potential of cultivating abaca for textile.

Not your regular abaca

The first thing Leaño explained was that the abaca fiber used to create the textile showcased isn’t the kind associated with the high value crop, but a type crossed with another banana species (abaca itself being a type of banana). “Abaca is plagued by two viruses: mosaic and bunchy top,” he said in Taglish. “The clever idea was to cross abaca with a native banana species that... is disease resistant.”