Correlations among nine characters of rubber tree clones at Porto Velho conditions, Rondônia state

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determinate the genetic (rG), phenotypic (rF), and environment (rE) correlations among nine characters of nine rubber tree clones Hevea spp. The experimental design was in randomized complete blocks with nine treatments and three replications. The correlated characters were, dry rubber production by early Hamaker Morris-Mann (HMM) test, total plant height, stem circunference at 1,30 m and 0,50 m from the point of insertion of the graft, bark thickness, total number of latex vessels rings, diameter of latex vessels, density of latex vessels per 5 mm rings, and average distance between consecutives latex vessels. The genetic and phenotypic correlation coefficients estimation indicated that the characters most correlated with rubber production were, barck thickness (rG = 0,7234; rF = 0,6923) and latex vessels rings number (rG = 0,6829; rF - 0,6005), showing that both traits are quite important in rubber trees improvement programs.