A Half-yearly Peer Reviewed Journal of Bangladesh Forest Research Institute
The status and approach for expansion of rubber cultivation in Thailand is outlined. Major diseases of rubber in Thailand, their incidence and effect in general and the role of Phytophthora botryosa Chee in particular, have been described. Abnormal leaf fall ofrubber due to P. botryosa was prevalent only in some high rainfall areas in the west coast of the country. This disease was, however, found to be absent both in the plantations of seed source and in the nursery wherefrom budded stumps were imported to Bangladesh in 1984.
Details of the phytosanitary treatments and packaging of the budded stumps for shipment to Bangladesh are outlined. Survivality of the budded stumps both in the nurseries and in plantations around Khagrachhari has been found to be quite low. This is most probably due to the failure of the budded stumps to produce adequate new roots because of very late planting. Phytosanitary treatments had little or no phytotoxicity effects on the budded stumps. It is suggested that in any future programme, budded rubber stumps have to be planted in the early planting season.