Highlights of the research findings in this issue are:

• Long term results from polycross vs recombination breeding programs in Hevea proved that the former approach can deliver more number of promising and diverse clones while the latter approach can generate specific gene combinations that may aid in breaking the yield plateau with the proper choice of parents. The two systems must therefore be given equal emphasis.
• Export potential of rubber and rubber products from India under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) was assessed and was found very limited. Further tariff liberalisation under the proposed RCEP agreement may widen the trade deficit which will have far reaching implications on the domestic rubber and rubber products manufacturing industry.
• Assessment of water quality in watersheds dominated by rubber, tea and cardamom plantations in the Western Ghats region of Kottayam and Idukki districts in Kerala showed better health of water resources in the rubber system, though bacterial contamination is a major problem in all three systems.
• Rubber growing soils in North Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra were low in available S status with wide spatial variability.
• Long term evaluation over 17 years of tapping revealed clones RRII 430 and PB 330 to be exceptionally high yielding with low incidence of TPD. RRII 429, RRII 430 and RRII 417 responded well to stimulation indicating their suitability for low frequency tapping.
• An improved somatic embryogenesis protocol with a reduced time span of eight months was developed for clone RRII 414 and plantlets were regenerated, acclimatized and established in the field.
• Presence of large number of highly mobile globular objects in the myctoplasm of sieve tubes of Hevea brasiliensis reported for the first time. They displayed chaotic and linear spatial mobility different from other known cellular movements.
• The cure behaviour and mechanical properties of NR/BR binary blend systems with special focus on retreading application assessed.
• An overview on the soils of Kerala and management strategies for sustaining soil health are given.