JUVENILE CHARACTERIZATION OF WILD HEVEA GERMPLASM

Abstract

Certain vigorous clones of Heves brasiliensis selected from the population representing
the three provenances in Brazil Le., Acre, Rondonia and Matto Grosso
were morphologically characterised to define the juvenile plant type of the wild
clones, at the age of one year after planting, in field conditions using the
parameters, habit of the plant, nature of axillary buds and leaf scars, shape
and appearance of leaf storey and leaf characters. Specific variations were noted
for most of the characters between the wild clones belonging to the three
provenances. The importance of characterization in maintaining the identity of
the hitherto under scribed wild germplasm is emphasised