Highlights of the research findings in this issue are:

• A strategy to ensure sustainable supply of natural rubber (NR) in India is formulated in the context of its increasing deficit in the country.
• Six latex clones, nine latex-timber clones and seven timber clones with heterosis for yield ranging from 2.27 to 91.54 per cent were evolved from 33 cross combinations involving 17 parents from the 1986 hybridization programme.
• Characterized the pathogen causing rubber leaf blight disease in Cameroon and identified as Pestalotiopsis microspora.
• Application of bio-inoculants along with reduced doses of chemical fertilizers may be a better alternate for nutrient management in young rubber plantations grown in the degraded soils of Tripura.
• A clonal nursery evaluation conducted in Central Kerala region with ortets and hybrids selected from Kanyakumari, Guwahati and Wayanad resulted in the identification of six promising clones with high yield and wide adaptability.
• Agro-climatic suitability for growing natural rubber was analyzed in the LWE affected states of India.
• Income enhancement and socio-economic development of tribal communities in Odisha by introduction of NR cultivation.
• Field survey conducted among the rubber growers of South India indicated that level of adoption of agronomic practices on land preparation, inter row management, weed management and dry season management was high. Adoption of integrated approach for soil and water conservation was rather poor.
• A fast and efficient enzymatic method was developed to produce de-proteinised natural rubber with good properties.