Evaluation of Hevea germplasm: observations on certain prominant traits in a conservatory

A study was conducted in a source bush nursery of wild Hevea germplasm of 1981 IRRDB exploration during July-August to identify the genotypes with superior performance. The genotypes represented Acre, Rondonia and Mallo Grosso provenances of Brazil. Observations were made on girth, bark thickness, test tap yield, seed weight, length and breadth of the seeds and disease incidence. The general performance of MT genotypes with respect to vigour, yield and tolerance to Phytopththora was found to be superior. The genotypes exhibited wide variability for the characters studied. The single seed weight ranged from 1.1–3.75g, and the length and width of the seeds ranged from 1.9–2.75cm, and 1.3–2.03cm respectively. The MT genotypes were found to be late flowering types compared to AC and RO genotypes.