RUBBER CLONES IN MALAYSIA (Part 2)

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 (MRB or LGM) from their websites for our knowledge.
 4) RRIM 928

Group 1 in MRB Planting Recommendations 2006 and it characteristic are as follows:
(1) Recommended for both latex and timber production.
(2) Potential latex production is up to 3,119kg per hectare per year 0.74 cubic metre of wood volume per tree after 21 years of planting
(3) Resistance to wind damage is good, Oidium and Colletotrichum leaf disease are moderate.
(4) Average bark. Colour of latex white.


5. RRIM 929

Group 1 in MRB* Planting Recommendations 2003 and its criteria are as follows:

(1) Recommended for both latex and timber production.
(2) The potential latex production is up to 3,143kg per hectare per year
(3) Produce about 1.20 cubic metre of wood volume per tree after 21 years of planting
(4) Resistance to wind damage, Oidium and Colletotrichum leaf disease are moderate.
(5) Average bark. Colour of latex cream.



6. PB 260

Group 1 in MRB Planting Recommendations 2006. Tje criteria are as follows:

(a) Recommended for both latex and timber production.
(b) The potential latex production is up to 1,605kg per hectare per year
(c) Produce for 1.29 cubic metre of wood volume per tree after 20 years of planting
(d) Resistance to wind damage, Oidium and Colletotrichum leaf disease are moderate.
(e) Average bark. Colour of latex white.To be continue in "Rubber clones in Malaysia" in part 3. (Click here).

Thanks.

By,
M Anem
Senior Agronomist,
Sungai Buloh,
Selangor,
Malaysia.
(30 Ramadan 1434H)