RUBBER CLONES IN MALAYSIA (Part 1)

 

RUBBER (Hevea braziliensis) is an important commodity in Malaysia since hundreds year ago. Systematic breeding and selection works of rubber clones to improve productivity has been an ongoing process in the Malaysian Rubber Board for almost nine decades. Since it embarked on the process, six series of clones with a total of 185 clones had been developed and recommended to the industry under the names RRIM 500 (1928-1931), RRIM 600 (1937-1941), RRIM 700 (1947-1958), RRIM 800 (1959-1965), RRIM 900 (1966-1973) and RRIM 2000 (1974 till now) series clones. Some of these clones are also widely planted in other rubber growing countries. The success of the rubber breeding programme can be seen from the multifold yield increase, from about 500 kg/ha/year for unselected seedlings to about 3,000 kg/ha/year in the modern clones. In the past, greater emphasis was given to produce high latex yielding clones, giving rise to a spectacular increase in yield. This was considered amazing given the narrow genetic base of the breeding population and this was achieved within two to three cycles of breeding and selection. But it could not be sustained largely due to the narrow genetic base. With the introduction of new genetic materials from Brazil in the 1950s in the development of the RRIM 900 and RRIM 2000 series clones have successfully increased the yield potential to about 3,000 kg per ha per year. This articles I my entry in "Anim Agro Technology" I share my knoledge about few new rubber clones released by Malaysian Rubber Board (LGM) from their websites for our knowledge. 

1)  RRIM 3001

Named Clone 1Malaysia, the RRIM 3001 clone developed by the Malaysian Rubber Board has the following characteristics; (1) Rapid growth rate and tappable in just 4 years after planting
(2) Potential latex production is up to 3000kg per hectare per year (3) Posses a wide girth and straight bole with 2.0 cubic metre of wood volume per tree after 15 years of planting
(4) Disease resistant. Clone 1Malaysia is in high demand in the production of latex and timber, providing growers with great return on investment. It is suitable for planting on a commercial basis as well as the rubber forest plantation programmes. A new rubber clone was launched on 13 August 2009 by the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, during the opening ceremony of the Malaysian International Commodity and Conference Showcase 2009 (MICCOS 2009). Named Clone 1Malaysia Clone 1Malaysia is therefore high in the production of latex and timber enabling rubber growers to increase their income. It is suitable for planting on a commercial basis including for the rubber forest plantation programme.

2)  PB 350

Group 1 in MRB* Planting Recommendations 2006. This clone are recommended for both latex and timber production and potential latex production is up to 1,663 kg per hectare per year. It produce about 1.16 cubic meter of wood volume per tree after 19 years of planting. It also resistance to wind damage, pink disease (Corticium salmonicolor), Corynespora leaf disease is good, Oidium and Colletotrichum leaf disease are average. Average bark. Colour of latex white.

3) RRIM 2025

Group 2B in MRB* Planting Recommendations 2006 and recommended for both latex and timber production. The characteristic are (1) The potential latex production is up to 2,700kg per hectare per year (2) Produce 1.87 cubic metre of wood volume per tree after 14 years of planting (3) Resistance to wind damage, Oidium and Colletotrichum leaf disease is good and moderate respectively, Corynespora is good. (4) Thick bark. Colour of latex white.

To be continue in "Rubber clones in Malaysia" in part 2. (Click here). Thanks.

By,

M Anem

Senior Agronomist,

Sungai Buloh, Selangor,

Malaysia.

(30 Ramadan 1434H)