Hybrid rice

NSIC Rc 502H (Mestiso 88) Rice Variety: Yield, Maturity and Characteristics

NSIC Rc 502H is a hybrid rice variety for irrigated lowland, known locally as Mestiso 88. The NSIC approved it in 2017. Bayer bred it. It matures in about 114 days and averages 6.2 tonnes per hectare, with a top yield of 12.5 tonnes in trials.

5 min read Updated October 17, 2026 By the anee.io agriculture team Read it all with Libre + Anee
Ripe palay heads, the harvest a hybrid like NSIC Rc 502H is bred to fill

The average and top yields in tonnes per hectare come from the trials each variety went through to be registered with the NSIC, and from what the seed companies say about their own seed.

What farmers harvest today can be different. Newer harvest records, the season, the place, the soil, the water and the care all move these numbers over time.

So use them to compare varieties, not as a promise for your field. Ask your seller or your agriculturist how the variety did on farms near you in the last few seasons.

If you came here looking for rice variety 502H, or Rc 502H, this is the one. Compare it with the other varieties in our rice variety finder before you buy seed. Also read our guide to rice varieties in the Philippines for how inbreds, hybrids and special rice differ.

  • Maturity: about 114 days after sowing.
  • Yield: 6.2 tonnes per hectare on average, or about 124 cavans of 50 kilograms. The best trial reached 12.5 tonnes.
  • Season: Dry season and wet season.
  • Watch out for: tungro, sheath blight.
  • Cooked rice: low amylose, so soft and tender.

Key facts about NSIC Rc 502H

Key facts of NSIC Rc 502H (t/ha means tonnes per hectare)
TraitValue
Year approved2017
Bred byBayer
Local nameMestiso 88
TypeHybrid
Growing environmentIrrigated lowland
Recommended seasonDry season and wet season
How to plant itDry direct seeded, transplanted, wet direct seeded
Recommended forLuzon
Maturity114 days after sowing
Average yield6.2 t/ha
Top yield in trials12.5 t/ha
Plant height108 cm

How much does NSIC Rc 502H yield?

On average it gives 6.2 tonnes per hectare. That is about 124 cavans of 50 kilograms of palay. It sits below the average of the 180 irrigated lowland hybrids on the list, which is 6.9 tonnes. But the top yield, 12.5 tonnes, came from a trial with good water, seed and care. So plan your costs on the average, then work toward the top with the habits in our guide to raising rice yield per hectare.

How many days does it take to mature?

It takes about 114 days from sowing to harvest. Varieties of 100 to 120 days count as short duration and 120 to 140 days as medium, so this one counts as short duration. Then harvest when 85 to 90 percent of the grains turn golden yellow. Because the day count drives every task, anee.io counts it for you from each lot's own planting day, with the growth stages and weather beside it.

Is it resistant to pests and diseases?

Reactions in trials: R resistant, MR moderately resistant, I intermediate, MS moderately susceptible, S susceptible. Some carry a second rating in brackets.
Pest or diseaseRatingWhat it means
Rice blastIntermediateTook a middling share of damage
Bacterial leaf blightIntermediateTook a middling share of damage
TungroSusceptibleTook heavy damage
Brown planthopperIntermediateTook a middling share of damage
Green leafhopperIntermediateTook a middling share of damage
Stem borerIntermediateTook a middling share of damage
Sheath blightSusceptibleTook heavy damage

So scout early for tungro, sheath blight. When you see the first signs, check the guide before you spray, because the right timing saves more than an extra dose. If you are not sure what you see, our pest and disease finders help you name it from the damage.

Grain and eating quality

Grain quality of NSIC Rc 502H
MeasureValueClass
Amylose14.2 percentLow
Milling recovery70.8 percentPremium
Head rice47.8 percentGrade 2
Chalky grains18.4 percentNot graded
Grain length6.7 mmLong
Grain shape, length to width2.8Intermediate
Protein7.1 percent

Amylose decides how rice cooks. With low amylose, expect rice that is soft. In fact, Filipino taste has moved from high to intermediate and low amylose rice, because people want it softer. Head rice is the share of whole grains after milling. So a higher number means fewer broken grains and a better price at the mill.

Where should you plant it?

It suits irrigated lowland, where you control the water. Level the field well so the water stands evenly, and plant together with the farms around you, so pests cannot move from field to field. Our guide to rice land preparation shows each step. It is recommended for the dry season and the wet season. You can plant it dry direct seeded, transplanted or wet direct seeded. For the right month in your province, see the best time to plant rice.

Plan your next season of NSIC Rc 502H

Set the planting day of each lot and anee.io dates every task to harvest, with the weather beside it. Free on the Libre plan.

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Varieties like this one

These come from the same kind of farm and grow about as long. So if seed of this one is hard to find, compare these first.

  • NSIC Rc 490H: 114 days, 6.2 tonnes per hectare on average, 2017
  • NSIC Rc 492H: 114 days, 6.2 tonnes per hectare on average, 2017
  • NSIC Rc 236H: 114 days, 6.2 tonnes per hectare on average, 2010
  • NSIC Rc 262H: 114 days, 6.4 tonnes per hectare on average, 2011
What is the local name of NSIC Rc 502H?
It is known as Mestiso 88. Seed sellers and agriculturists use both names, so ask for either one.
How many days does NSIC Rc 502H take to harvest?
About 114 days after sowing. Then harvest when 85 to 90 percent of the grains are golden yellow.
What is the average yield of NSIC Rc 502H?
It averages 6.2 tonnes per hectare, about 124 cavans of 50 kilograms. The best trial reached 12.5 tonnes. Your own yield depends on water, seed, fertilizer and timing.
In which season should I plant it?
It is recommended for the dry season and the wet season. Then pick the month with our planting calendar guide and the forecast for your town.
Is this variety a hybrid?
Yes. So buy new seed each season, because seed saved from a hybrid crop does not grow true and yields less.
What should I watch for when I plant it?
In trials it was weak against tungro, sheath blight. So scout from the early weeks and act at the first signs.

See how NSIC Rc 502H will do on your farm

With Libre + Anee, see its full record: how it yields, its strengths and weaknesses against pests, diseases and the weather, and whether it fits your farm, your season and your soil.

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