Evaluation of Brazilian wild Hevea germplasm for cold tolerance: genetic variability in the early mature growth

Abstract

Hevea brasiliensis is a commercially cultivated species for its natural rubber (NR) latex in South East Asian countries. To meet the ever-increasing demand, NR cultivation has been extended to non-traditional regions due to the limited scope of further expansion in traditional rubber-growing areas in India. These areas are often confronted with various abiotic stresses, especially high and low temperatures, which cause reduction in plant growth, thereby increasing its uneconomical immaturity period. Eighteen wild Hevea accessions along with two modern clones RRII 203 and PB 235 and two check clones RRIM 600 and Haiken 1 were evaluated in the early mature growth phase. The site was at Nagrakata, West Bengal, the sub-Himalayan cold-prone region of India. In Hevea, crop production is governed by two major factors, growth-vigor and production capacity. Growth-vigor is of special importance because the production of rubber is a process linked with the early growth of the plant, which results in early tappability and early economic gains. The genotypes exhibited highly significant clonal differences (P = 0.05) for all the growth traits. Tappability percentage in the seventh year, ranged from 0.33 % (AC 3074, AC 3075, AC 3293) to 89.67 % (RO 2727). The most vigorously growing accession (RO 2727) reached tappabile girth early in the seventh year when the girth of plant ranged from 22.38 cm (AC 3293) to 53.12 cm (RO 2727). The general mean was 43.32 cm, and the similar growth trend was exhibited by these accessions in the tenth year also. Annual girth increment (cm a⁻¹) over 3 years ranged from 1.81 cm (AC 3075) to 6.80 cm (RO 2727). The mean winter girth increment (cm a⁻¹) over 4 years ranged from 0.13 cm (AC 3075) to 0.96 cm (RO 2727) as compared to the check clone RRIM 600 (1.11 cm) and Haiken 1 (1.10 cm). Wide differences between the phenotypic coefficient of variation (50.29) and genotypic coefficient of variation (24.82) were observed for winter girth increment. Girth in the tenth year recorded the highest heritability (87 %). Girth was significantly correlated with the other growth traits. The top 30 % of the potential accessions showing high growth vigour and early tappability under cold stress were identified. These ecotypes/selections have high potential value for the development of cold-tolerant clones for these regions and also in broadening the genetic base of the present-day cultivated rubber.

Keywords

Cold tolerance / Genetic variability / Growth vigour / Hevea brasiliensis / Natural rubber / Wild accessions

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