Stimulation of Rubber Trees with Different Tapping Frequencies in the Northwest of Colombia

Abstract

The natural rubber plantations of Bajo Cauca (Antioquia) require a high tapping intensity. This generates a higher cost of labor and overexploitation. This is why physiological and production parameters were evaluated in rubber trees clone FX3864, which were subjected to different tapping frequencies and chemical stimulation in Northeast of Antioquia, Colombia. The latex yield and the contents of sucrose, inorganic phosphorus, thiols, and total solids content were compared in rubber trees stimulated with 2.5% ethephon and subjected to three tapping frequencies (every two, three, and four days). The highest latex production was reached in trees stimulated and tapped every four days (170.99 mL.d' per tree), without indications of overexploitation for this frequency. Stimulation and the reduction of tapping intensity in rubber trees increase the yields without significant metabolic alterations.