Stock-scion interactions on growth and rubber yield of Hevea brasiliensis

Rubber tree cultivation [Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex Adr. de Juss.) Muell.-Arg.] uses mostly the budding propagation method, however the expected stand uniformity due to the use of vegetative propagation is theoretical, since high variation for yield and vigor is caused by rootstock influence. The objective of this study was to assess several combinations between clonal rootstocks and clone scions through diallel analysis, aiming at high productivity and vigor. Data consisted of five years of dry rubber yield and girth at panel opening from an experiment using a split-plot design with four replications, conducted at Pindorama, SP, Brazil, considering six rootstocks (GT 1, IAN 873, PB 235, RRIM 600, RRIM 701 and unselected seedlings) and six scions (GT 1, IAN 873, PB 235, PR 107, RRIM 600 and RRIM 701). A 6 x 6 partial diallel analysis summing up 36 combinations was undertaken, and general compatibility for each group of materials (rootstocks and scions) and specific compatibility among all combinations were estimated. The results have shown that PB 235 and IAN 873 rootstocks provided high yields and general compatibility values (7.9348 and 2.7647, respectively). The use of unselected seedlings as rootstocks is not recommended because they presented very low compatibility values for dry rubber yield. Towards growth vigor, the tested rootstocks have shown similar performance.