Dr. Eufemio Rasco, Jr. is recognized for his pioneering and outstanding contributions in the field of plant breeding, specifically tropical vegetables breeding at the University of the Philippines Los Banos and at the East-West Seed Company, Philippines. The majority of the vegetable varieties now commercially available not only in the Philippines but also in most of Asia are products of his vegetable breeding activities. Dr. Rasco's comprehensive work on breeding, seed production, and agronomy of the tropical white potato has contributed to the body of knowledge documented in the book "The Potato in Tropical Asia" of which he is the main author. This book has become the authoritive source of technical information on tropical white potato. His collaborative research work with the private sector has resulted in the approval of new genetically modified (GM) corn hybrids, contributing to a healthy competition in the expanding market for GM crops in the Philippines. At University of th Philippines Mindanao, Dr. Rasco developed a general education course on biotechnology, the first in the country, that is now adopted by four other universities. His book, "The Unfolding Gene Revolution" which was designed as main reference for this course is internationally distributed and has earned international and local acclaim.

Sex: Male

Education:

    • University of the Philippines at Los Ba?os, College, Laguna, BS Agriculture (Animal Science), 1971
    • University of the Philippines at Los Ba?os, College, Laguna, M.S. Plant Physiology, 1974
    • Cornell University, USA, PhD Plant Breeding, 1979

Field of Specialization:

Plant Breeding, Vegetables and Seed Production, Agriculture

Researches:

    • Aromin, F. B.Rasco E. T. Jr. Torres, H., (1995) On-farm trials of boron application on potato.
    • In: Rasco, E.T. Jr. Amante, V.DR. and Aromin, F.B. Research Papers and progress Reports on development Activities of the Coordinating Office. Sourheast Asia Program for Potato research and development, Manila, Philippines.
    • Rasco, E.T. Jr., (1990) Vegetable production training manual.
    • AVRDC
    • Aromin, F. B. Rasco, E. T. Jr. Torres, H. Banigued, C. A. De la Cruz, A. A., (1995) Application of seed plot techniques on two popular potato cultivars and virus eradication on cultivar Conchita.
    • Research Papers and Progress Reports on Development Activities of the Coordinating Office
    • Rasco, E.T. et al., (1997) The potato in Tropical Asia.
    • Asian Sweetpotato and Potato Research and Development
    • Rasco, E. T Jr. Aromin, F. B. Balatero, C. (eds.), (1996) Proceedings of the 4th triennial meeting of the Asian Potato Association Vol. 2: Breeding, Crop Protection and Processing.
    • APA, Los Ba?os, Laguna Volume 2
    • Rasco, E. T. Jr. Aromin F. B. Balatero, C. (eds.), (1996) Proceedings of the 4th triennial meeting of the Asian Potato Association Vol. 1: Agronomy and Seed Production.
    • APA, Los Ba?os, Philippines. Volume 1
    • Rasco, E. T. Jr. Amante V. dR. (eds.), (1994) Sweetpotato variety evaluation: Background papers and country reports.
    • Southeast Asian Program for Potato Research and Development Volume 2
    • Rasco, E.T. Jr. Amante, V.dR. (eds.) ente,, (1994) Sweetpotato variety evaluation
    • Training Manual. Southeast Asian Program for Potato Research and Development. Volume 1
    • Rasco, E.T. Jr. Aromin, F. B. (eds.), (1992) Potato seed systems in transition.
    • Proceedings of the Southeast Asian Program for Potato Research and Development Seed System Workshop, June 1-6, 1992.
    • Aromin, F. B. Rasco, E. T. Jr., (1991) Training manual for potato production in the low elevation tropics.
    • Southeast Asian Program for Potato Research and Development
    • Lopez, P. J. S. Santos, T. S. Rasco, E. T. Jr. Anova, R. Espiritu, M. Mangohig, P., (1993) Growth and yield of field-grown sweetpotato with Azospirillum inoculation.
    • Research Papers and Progress Reports on Development Activities, Vol. 2, Sweetpotato, Southeast Asian Program for Potato Research and Development. Manila, Philippines. (Rasco, E.T. Jr. Lopez, P.J.S. Amante, V.DR. Aromin, F.B. eds.) Volume 2
    • Miranda, M. B. Rasco, E.T. Jr., (1991) Response of okra (abelmoschus esculentus) to ratooning
    • Philippine Agriculturist Volume 74, No. (3):
    • Rasco, E. T. Jr.,, (1992) Variety development and testing. In: Potato seed system in transition
    • Proceedings of the Southeast Asian Program for Potato Research and Development, Manila, Philippines
    • Dela Cruz, A., Malab, B. Manuel, R. Sana, E. Rasco, E.T. Jr. Aromin, F.B., (1992) Intercropping potato with sweet potato
    • Potato Research and Development Volume 1
    • Rasco. E. T., Jr. V. D.r. Amante, B. Anselmo and B. F. Aromin, (1993) Variety evaluation of sweet potato
    • Potato Research and Development Volume 2
    • Lopez P. J., Santos, S.T. Rasco, E.T. Jr., (1993) Update on biofertilizers trials on sweet potato
    • Potato Research and Development Volume 2
    • Rasco, E. T., (1994) Characterization of variety collection of sweet potato
    • Potato Research and Development Volume 1
    • Rasco, E.T. Jr. Bacusmo, J. De Silva, K.P.U. Dimyati , A. Ganga, Poolperm, N., (1994) Scheme for Agroecology- and use-specific variety development for sweetpotato
    • South East Asian Program for Potato Research and Development Volume 1
    • Rasco, E. T. Jr., (1994) International variety development network for sweetpotato
    • South East Asian Program for Potato Research and Development Volume 1
    • Rasco, E. T. Jr., (1993) Progress of research and development in the South East Asian Program for Potato Research and Development Region: a critical review
    • Coordinator's Report
    • Rasco, E. T. Jr., (1992) Potato seed system in transition
    • Southeast Asian Program for Potato Research and Development
    • Rasco, E.T. Jr., (1994) Germplasm movement : Biological consequences, ethical question and policy issues
    • Global Science and Plant Genetic Resources
    • Rasco, E. T. Jr., (1991) An appeal for support for exploratory research
    • Philippine Journal of Crop Science Volume 16, No. (1):
    • Aromin, F. B. Rasco, E. T. jr, Callueng, M. Perez, J., (1995) Monitoring of seed quality of lowland-produced seed.
    • Research and Progress Reports on Development Activities of the Coordinating Office.
    • Amante, V. DR. Rasco, E.T. Jr., (1995) 1994-95 results of variety evaluation of sweetpotato under upland rainfed, pen field condition.
    • In: Rasco, E.T. Jr. Amante, V.DR. Aromin, F.B. Research Papers and Progress Reports on Development Activites of the Coordinating Office.
    • Aromin, F. B. Rasco, E. T. Jr. Bautista, O.. Magtibay, P. dela Cruz, A. A. Banigued, C. A., (1994) Effect of seed sorting on seed quality and subsequent yield of higland-produced seed tubers in the lowlands.
    • In: Selected Research Papers Vol.I: Potato, Southeast Asian Program for Potato Research Development, Manila, Philippines. Volume 1
    • Rasco, E.T. Jr., (1994) The theoretical basis and methods of sweetpotato variety development.
    • In Sweetpotato Variety Evaluation, Vol. 2 Training Manual, (Rasco, E.T. Jr. Amante, V.DR. eds.) Volume 2
    • Reyes, M. C. Mangohig, P. Rasco, E. T. Jr., (1994) Integrated pest management of sweetpotato weevil: Monitoring of weevil population and introduction and control measures in San Felipe, Zambales.
    • Selected Research Papers, Vol.2, Sweetpotato, Southeast Asian Program for Potato Research and Development, Manila, Philippines. (Rasco, E.T. Jr. Amante, V.DR. eds.) Volume 2
    • Lopez, P .J. S. Santos, S. Rasco, E. T. Jr., (1994) Studies on Azospirillum as biofertilizer for sweetpotato in volcanic ash-laden soil.
    • Selected Research Papers, Vol.2. Sweetpotato. Southeast Asian Program for Potato Research and Development, Manila, Philippines. Volume 2
    • Aromin, F. B. Rasco, E. T. Jr. Bautista, O. K. Magtibay, P. Sana, E. J. de la Cruz, A. A. Baniqued C. A . Mariano, J. S., (1993) Evaluation of highland-produced seed tubers of potato cv Berolina.
    • Research Papers and Progress Reports on Development Activities (1992-93), Vol. 1, Potato, Southeast Asian Program for Potato Research and Development, Manila, Philippines. Volume 1
    • Rasco, E.T. jr. Aromin, F.B. ThongjiemM. Kurrupuarachi, K. Tung, P.X., (1997) Lowland potato cultivation in the red river delta of Vietnam
    • In: The potato in Tropical Asia ASPRAD
    • Lopez, P.J.S Santos, T.S. Rasco, E.T. Jr., (1996) Studies of Azospirillum as bio-fertilizer for potted sweet potato in volcanic ash-laden soil.
    • The Philippine Journal of Biotechnology Volume 7(1)
    • Rasco, E.T. Jr. Amante, V.dR., (2000) Sweet Potato in Tropical Asia
    • PCARRD-DOST, Book Series No. 171
    • Rasco, E.t. Jr., (2009) Contributions and prospects of plant breeding research for improving vegetable production in tropical asia
    • Proceedings of the International Symposium on The Socio-Economic Impact of Modern Vegetable Production Technology in Tropical Asia
    • Rasco, E.T. Jr., (2011 JL 13-14) Long-term Weed Management,Diversity and Abundance of Broadleaf Weeds in a Banana Plantation in Davao City,Philippines
    • Transactions of the National Academy of Science and Technology. Abstracts of Papers Volume 33, No. 1
    • Rasco, E.T. Jr., (2011 Jl 13-14) In Vitro Rooting of Nepenthes truncata Macf
    • Transactions of the National Academy of Science and Technology . Abstracts of Papers Volume 33, No. 1

Awards:

    • Rizal Propatria, Dept. of Agriculture, 1989
    • Outstanding Young Scientist (Plant Breeding), NAST-DOST, 1984
    • PANTAS Award, PCARRD, 1985
    • TOYM, Philippine Jaycees, 1984