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Rubber Cachuchu (Ameridian) Caucho (Spanish)

Rubber Cachuchu (Ameridian) Caucho (Spanish). Euphorbiaceae Hevea brasiliensis. Tree. Height In wild grows to 40 m Cultivated 10-30 m Growth restricted by tapping activity Early training remove all branches up to 2.5 m. Smooth trunk for latex collection

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Rubber Cachuchu (Ameridian) Caucho (Spanish)

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  1. RubberCachuchu (Ameridian) Caucho (Spanish) Euphorbiaceae Hevea brasiliensis

  2. Tree • Height • In wild grows to 40 m • Cultivated 10-30 m • Growth restricted by tapping activity • Early training remove all branches up to 2.5 m. • Smooth trunk for latex collection • When trunk reaches 500 mm circumference (15 cm diameter) Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

  3. Latex Vessels • Location • External bark • Latex vessels • Phloem • Cambium • Xylem • Laticiferous vessels • Latex synthesis and transport • Tapping • Important not to damage phloem seive cells or cambium Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

  4. Trifoliate Foliage • Young leaves - copper colored • Green when mature • Young trees never devoid of foliage Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

  5. Trifoliate Foliage • After tree is mature (5 years) • Wintering, at least once per year • Drop leaves • Takes 2 weeks to regrow leaf canopy • Yield low during this period • Other reasons for defoliation • Drought • Cold and short days (outside trop) Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

  6. Flowering • Monoecious • Female flowers - tips of branches • Male flowers more numerous • Cross pollinated • Anemophilic • Entomophilic • Seed • Capsules with 3 seed Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

  7. Native range of Hevea spp Native range of Hevea brasiliensis Rubber Origin and Dispersal Wycherley, 1976 W Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

  8. Adaptation: Rain forest species • Temperature • Ideal temperature 22 - 30oC • Generally below 600 m above sea level • Up to 1000 m at equator • Moisture • 1500 - 3000 mm / year • Does not flourish if pronounced dry season • Excessive rains interfere with tapping Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

  9. Adaptation: Rain forest species • Soil • pH 4.0 - 6.5 • Well drained soil • Sensitive to flooding or high water tables • Prone to wind damage • Especially in commercial plantings • Prime growing region • 10° N and S of the equator Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

  10. Rubber Origin and Dispersal 1876 - Wickham takes 70,000 seed to Kew Gardens 1876 to 1877 - 2,000 seedlings sent to Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore W Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

  11. Origin of Rubber, Hevea brasiliensis • Origin • Amazon Basin • Upper Orinoco • Guianas • Wild trees harvested by local peoples • Footware, bottles • Torches, balls • At least 1,000 years before the arrival of Europeans to South America Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

  12. Development of Rubber • Initially used little • Could not reliquify • Sensitive to temperature • 1770 - Priestley in England • Rubber cubes introduced as erasers • 1820’s • Methods to reliquify • Rubberized cloth -> MacIntosh Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

  13. Development of Rubber • 1840’s • Vulcanization with sulphur invented • Stabilized rubber at high and low temperatures • Many more uses were invented • Seals for sewers • Conveyor belts • Inflatable boats • Springs in railway and road vehicles Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

  14. Development of Rubber • Increased demand creates need for reliable source • Brazilian production based on tapping wild trees destructively • British sent Sir Wickham to Brazil to collect seed • 1876 brought back 70,000 seed • Germinated at Kew Gardens • 2,700 seedlings sent mainly to Sri Lanka Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

  15. Development of Rubber • Invention of tires in late 1800s • Increased demand • Increased price of rubber • Stimulated development of plantations in Asia, Africa, and South America • Successful in Asia and Africa • Unsuccessful in South America • South American Leaf Blight • Microcyclus ulei Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

  16. Production Webster and Baulkwill, 1989 • World production • 5 million mt • 60-70% for tire manufacture • Most (85-90%) in Southeast Asia • Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India • Little in South America due to SALB • Production of synthetic rubber • 10 million mt Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

  17. Propagation • Rootstocks - established by seed • Plant fresh seed • Begin lose viability within 7-10 days • Germinate in 1-3 weeks • Nursery • 6 months 1-1.3 m tall • 10-15 months ready for transplant Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

  18. Improved Varieties Budded • Budding methods • Week before budding • Cut leaves subtending bud • Patch budding - historic • Green strip budding • Let scion latex drain 4 hrs before cutting buds from scions Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

  19. Planting • Density • 250 to 300 plants/ha • Precocity • 5-8 years before begin tapping • Needs to be about 50 cm in circumference at 1 m height • Trunk diameter of 7-8 cm • Productive life • Production increases until 15 years old • Normally tap for 20-25 years • Recommend replacement at 30 years of age • Harvest trees for timber Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

  20. Tapping and Bleeding • Begin to tap • 45 to 50 cm trunk perimeter • Excision method of tapping • Cut groove 30o angle mark at 48” point • Draw 180o around tree (half way) • Groove does not injure cambium Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

  21. Latex flowing in recently cut tree Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

  22. Tapping and Bleeding • Remove thin sliver of bark • 3 times/week • 1” vertical distance / month • 120-160 tappings per year • Ethephon (early 1970s) • Applied to bark near cut • Delays plugging --> increased flow • Research to decrease number of tappings needed Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

  23. Daily Schedule • One person starts cutting at 0600 • Morning is when flow the highest • Cut 500 trees by 0930 • Anti-coagulant in each cup • Latex flows for 1-3 hours • Collection begins at 1100 Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

  24. Tapping Life of Tree • Depends on ability of tapper • Extend life by cutting thinner slivers • Consume bark at slower rate • Tapping schedule • First side tapped for 4-5 years • Second side tapped for 4-5 years • Repeat cycle on original sides • An individual tree will last 20-25 years Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

  25. Second time to tap Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

  26. Yields • Unselected wild seedlings • 300 to 450 kg/ha • Modern clones from Wickham population • 3 generations of breeding (100 years) • 700 to 2,000 kg/ha Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

  27. Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

  28. Producers • Currently plantation approach is in decline • Large demand for labor • Small holder production is rising • Labor needed throughout year • Relatively low capital investment • Year round cash flow Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

  29. Any Questions?

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