Heterozygosis and Breeding

Abstract

The penultimate aim of any breeding programme is to derive a clone with enhanced dry rubber yield (g tree−1 tap−1) and, if possible, with improved secondary attributes like resistance to diseases and high/low temperature stresses. The efficient use of the available genetic variability in the form of clones is further augmented through bud grafting. However, the long time needed for genotype evaluation and low seed set added constraints for the production of recombinants. The main source of modern clones is the Wickham population with much lower genetic variability. Of late, concerted efforts to integrate new wild Amazonian population offer new vistas for the production of new clones.