Telangana Scientist Bags Patents From Three Countries For Hybrid Rice Seed Innovation
Balram Marathi, Director of Research at PJTSAU, has secured patents in India, the U.S., and the Philippines for his hybrid rice seed innovation. Developed during his IRRI fellowship, the variety boosts productivity and resilience. The patented method enhances seed production via improved outcrossing, promising wider adoption and lower costs in rice cultivation.
Hyderabad: Balram Marathi, Director of Research at Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU), has earned a rare distinction in agricultural science by securing patents for his hybrid rice seed innovation in India, the United States, and the Philippines. Balram’s work aims to transform rice cultivation by improving crop resilience and productivity.
During his fellowship at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), he conducted the research that led to the development of a novel hybrid rice variety. By cross-pollinating the cellular material of a rice crop cultivated for over a year in Africa with a genetically compatible plant, he engineered a hybrid designed to boost productivity and resilience in rice farming.
The United States granted a patent for Balram’s hybrid rice invention in 2020, followed by India in 2023. Most recently, the Government of the Philippines awarded a patent for the hybrid variety, with Balram receiving the official certificate on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. The Philippine patent will remain valid until June 5, 2036.
The achievement was celebrated at Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, where Vice Chancellor Aldas Janaiah, senior officials, and fellow scientists extended their congratulations to Balram for this international recognition. Talking to Eenadu–ETV Bharat, he expressed joy over receiving patents from three countries, marking a significant milestone in hybrid rice seed technology.
In a LinkedIn post, Balram shared the newly acquired patent letter issued by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, Bureau of Patents, for his invention—Increasing hybrid seed production through higher outcrossing rate in cytoplasmic male sterile rice and related materials and methods.
He expressed hope that the invention would be utilised by both public and private sector institutions to improve hybrid rice parental lines for high outcrossing, thereby increasing hybrid rice seed production and enhancing the availability of hybrid rice seeds at a lower cost to support its adoption in larger areas.
Balram Marathi, Associate Dean at PJTSAU, Telangana, is an agricultural scientist with over 30 years of experience in research, teaching, and crop improvement. He holds a PhD from IARI and post-doctoral credentials from IRRI, and has pioneered innovations in hybrid rice, groundnut, and cotton breeding. In addition to being an inventor of a globally filed patent for increasing rice outcrossing rates, he has helped advance methods in phenotyping and genomic selection.
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Source : Etv Bharat
