Highlights of the research findings in this issue are:

• The first systematic polycross breeding program of RRII with a base population of 1680 half-sib seedlings from 20 promising parent clones resulted in 12 selections in the pipeline. Their estimated rubber yield ranged from 2820 to 4429 kg ha-1year-1 out yielding the check clone by over 20%
• The concept of harvest index in a perennial tree crop like rubber is different from annual crops. It is redefined as efficiency partitioning of annual incremental biomass in tappd rubber trees into rubber
• Growth of rubber trees was significantly influenced by planting density from sixth year onwards. At higher planting density attainment of tappable girth was delayed
• The gestation period of natural rubber could be brought down to less than six years through the use of direct-seeded green-budded plants and adoption of integrated agricultural practices
• Biochemical assay of critical parameters indicated no significant changes subsequent to various stimulation schedules under low frequency tapping system
• 34 potential new ortets/progenies developed from half-sib progeny population tested under the agro-climate of sub-Himalayan West Bengal
• RubSIS based analysis indicated that about 1,61,911 ha of mature rubber area in Kerala and Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu where fertilizer application can be skipped for short periods which resulted in a net annual saving of Rs. 87 crores
• A stable free radical assisted mechanical devulcanisation technology developed at RRII is effective in devulcanising commercial rubber powders like buffing dust from precured tread rubber and crumb rubber powder or ground tyre rubber
• The service life of products made up of nitrile rubber (NBR), ethylene propyle diene (EPDM) rubber and natural rubber (NR) is predicted based on the Arrhenius theory
• Extent of adoption of genetically modified crops for commercial cultivation worldwide and the stringent regulations in many countries are discussed