Highlights of the research findings in this issue are:

• Stress responsive plant deformations viz., permanently altered activity of cambium, intense deposition of definitive callose and P-protein, chaotic dynamic system in the sieve tube, peroxidase activity, protein storing cells and phytoplasma in response to Tapping Panel Dryness (TPD) syndrome are reviewed
• Monthly variation in yield showed a more equitable distribution in traditional region whereas it was more pronounced in NE India and Central India showed an intermediary behaviour. Monthly yield variation remained largely insensitive to price. Regulation of tapping under low price scenario is addressed
• Rubber plantations in landslide-prone areas in Kerala were delineated and categorized into low, medium and high landslide susceptible zones and an open source WebGIS portal developed with geospatial information on landslide susceptibility of rubber plantations at panchayat level and location-specific agriculture practices and recommendations
• A planting density of 544 trees ha-1 gave the highest BCR and IRR indicating that it is the economically viable planting option for North-East India
• In Hevea HP programmes, a female parent with high yield potential and a male parent known for vigorous growth and yield would be ideal for yield improvement as evident in the cross combinations involving RRII 105 and other clones
• In the first ever introgression hybridization done in Hevea for evolving high yielding clones using Amazonian hybrids and Wickham clones, cross combinations involving RRII 430 as maternal parent and 90/10 (a hybrid of RRII 105 x RO 142) as paternal parent gave maximum number of high yielding selections.
• Variability in the number of IP could be an intrinsic anatomical trait useful for screening and shortlisting of clones for non-traditional areas
• Branch induction through application of raw rubber latex on apical meristem of young rubber plants was found to be superior and cost effective than conventional leaf capping method