Assessments on growth and morphological attributes of bud wood nursery plants of rubber in different agro-climatic regions of Sri Lanka

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to ascertain the growth, morphological and bud grafting performance of eight rubber clones viz. RRIC 100, RRIC 102, RRIC 121, RRISL 203, RRISL 217, RRISL 2001, PB 86 and PB 260 in bud wood nurseries established in Egaloya (wet zone) and Ampara (dry zone) of Sri Lanka. Root stock nurseries were established in Egaloya, Ampara and Moneragala (intermediate zone). The clone RRIC 121 recorded the highest growth rate and number of usable buds followed by RRISL 2001 and RRISL 203 and the lowest in RRIC 102 followed by RRISL 217in bud wood nurseries established in both Egaloya and Ampara. RRIC 121 showed the highest bud grafting success in Moneragala, while RRIC 102 in Egaloya and PB 260 in Ampara. Nevertheless, the clone RRISL 203 ranked the lowest for the same attribute in Moneragala while RRIC 100 in Ampara and Egaloya respectively.