Genetic variation in rubber tree progenies: Macronutrients contents

Abstract

This work was carried out at the Experimental Station of the São Paulo State University (Unesp) located in Ilha Solteira-SP The results showed that the genetic variation coefficient varies between 2.76% for Nitrogen to 5.91% for Sulphur showing the better variability for leaf Sulphur contents. With regards to the selection index the phosphorus content presents the best value (0.56) and the selection basis recommended this index because the used soil have low phosphorus content. The phenotypic correlation between the characteristics were low on the whole. We concluded that the progenies showed a good variability for nutrient content. Introduction

The use of some characters for rubber tree breeding is necessary to improve the development of new cultivars.

Nowadays the use of nutritional contents is one way to develop a new method for selection, mainly when we observe good correlations between the production and the nutrients contents.

Financial support of the Fundaçao de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo