Ramon Barba

Leanne Jan B. Parami

10 - Neutron
Ramon Barba
Ramon Barba is a well-known Filipino scientist, especially to
agriculturally involved individuals in the Philippines for
contributing towards advancements in the mango industry..

He developed a process that caused the flowering and

fruiting of mango trees three times a year, instead on once a
year, so dramatically improving yields.

In 2013 Ramon Barba became National Scientist in the Philippines for his “distinguishe
d achievements in the field of plant physiology, focusing on induction of flowering of
mango and on micro propagation of important crop species.
Early Life and Personal Background

At the University His inspiration to

Ramon Barba of the Philippines study in this field
was born on A in Los Banos, came from his gr
Laguna finished andfather, Juan C
ugust 31, 1939
his college degre abanas and Dr. L.
e. G. Gonzales
 Career Path

1958 1962 1967 1969 1980

He graduated with He was also program

Barba served as distinction with a He earned his Barba was appointed leader of the PlantCell
an assistant instr Master of Science doctorate in as assistant professor and Tissue Culture
uctor from 1958 in Horticulture 1967 with a Ph. at the UPCA in 1969, Laboratory of the Inst
to 1960 from the University D. in horticulture later resigning in 1975 itute of Plant Breedin
.
of Georgia. g.
Career and Contributions in the Field of Mango Ho
rticulture
• He proposed that a chemical spray with Etherel (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid) may ind
uce flowering but could not obtain permissions to begin trials. He had previously condu
cted research using Etherel and potassium nitrate and wanted a trial to try these fert
ilizers on mango trees.

• Barba faced several rejections when he proposed applying the technique he developed t
o make mango trees flower more frequently.

• The results from the simple experiment were astounding on the branches that had bee
n sprayed with the potassium nitrate solution. After combining a kilo of potassium nitrate
with a hundred liters of water and spraying it on the selected tree branches, the buds b
egan forming a week later.
Career and Contributions in the Field of Mango Ho
rticulture

• Barba patented his invention but charged no royalties, so allowing his findings to be of be
nefit to mango growers world-wide. He soon developed the plant growth enhancer “Flush
” which speeds up the growth cycle of trees and advances flowering.

• From further studies conducted spraying “Flush” onto mango trees. This product tripled t
he mango yield; making mangoes available thrice instead of just once a year; the fruits w
ere 15% smaller, but overall, the mangoes were of good quality. Later studies showed th
at the trees which had been sprayed still bore fruit 30 years later.
Other Research
• Barba developed a tissue culture procedure for the banana plant
which enabled production of large quantities of planting materials
that were robust and disease-free.

• He also developed a tissue culture procedure for sugar cane that all
owed the rapid production of large amounts of disease-free planting
materials.

• With his research team, Barba devised micro propagation protocols

for more than 40 important species of fruit crops, ornamental plants,
plantation crops, aquarium plants, and forest trees.
The Positive Effects of Ramon Barb
a’s Efforts

Since the discovery of Ramon Barba’s method to induce flowering for mango plan
ts, the mango industry in the Philippines expanded. Apart from the mango produc
ers themselves, other business sectors such as the producers of the pest control
chemicals, harvesters, sellers, and all the other smaller groups of workers related
to mango industry have benefitted from his invention. This technology has also be
en successfully applied on other fruit trees including cashew.
In 2013 Ramon C. Barba was conferred the rank and title of National Scientist in t
he Philippines for “his distinguished achievements in the field of plant physiology,
focusing on induction of flowering of mango and on micro propagation of importan
t crop species.”
Barba was elected a member to the National Academy of Science and Technolog
y, Philippines in 2004.
Barba was a recipient of the 1974 Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines i
n Agriculture Awards. In 1974 and again in 1981, the Crop Science Society of the
Philippines awarded him the Best Paper Award.
References

• https://www.famousscientists.org/ramon-barba/

• http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/632148/national-scientist-ram
on-barba-made-country-worlds-second-biggest-mango-p
roducer

• http://www.famousfilipino.com/content/view/133/116/