Early testing in Hevea brasiliensis: vigor, stability and climatic resilience in the humid tropics

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Published: May 12, 2026
Keywords:
edaphoclimatic conditions, survival, dasometric variables, nutrients, Hevea brasiliensis, early selection, phenotypic stability, genotype-by-environment interaction, genetic improvement, precocity

Main Article Content

Elías Ortiz-Cervantes
Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias
J. Jesús Loyola
Universidad Autónoma Chapingo

Abstract

Conventional genetic improvement of Hevea brasiliensis faces a critical operational challenge due to extremely prolonged selection cycles, which can extend from 25 to 30 years before a definitive commercial evaluation is possible. Given this, the validation of early-stage trials becomes a strategic imperative to optimize the efficiency and profitability of breeding programs in the humid tropics. This research aimed to evaluate the vegetative vigor, productive efficiency, and phenotypic stability of five rubber clones (IAN 710, IAN 873, IRCA 41, IRCA 19, and IRCA 111) under the agro-ecological conditions of Tezonapa, Veracruz. Over an intensive 48-month monitoring period, variables for diameter growth (DBH), height (ALT), and dry rubber yield (RS) were quantified. The robustness of the statistical analysis was ensured using Linear Mixed Models via the REML/BLUP procedure, integrating high-resolution climatic variables obtained through the ClimateNA v7.60 platform, which allowed for the accurate modeling of the genotype-by-environment (G×E) interaction.


Results showed highly significant differences (P < 0.0001), among the evaluated materials, confirming extensive genetic variability. Clones from the Brazilian series stood out for their notable structural precocity; specifically, the IAN 873 clone recorded the highest mean diameter increment (2.24 mm/month), projecting a reduction of up to 12 months in the juvenile phase to reach the commercial tapping threshold compared to the IRCA 111 clone. Through the application of the Finlay-Wilkinson stability model, it was determined that the IRCA 41 clone possesses specific adaptability to optimal environments (β = 1.226), achieving the highest yield per series (21.31 g) despite exhibiting intermediate vegetative vigor.


Analysis of climatic interactions revealed that water deficit (DEFH), and maximum temperatures (TMAX), act as the main negative environmental modulators, significantly impacting the turgidity and productivity of the clones (r = -0.186***). Likewise, the analysis of productive hierarchy, using the Spearman coefficient, showed an increasing consolidation trend as the physiological maturity of the trees increased, reaching a correlation of ρ = 0.679*** between the third and fourth year of evaluation. It is concluded that the IAN 873 clone manifests the greatest resilience and phenotypic stability against water stress (R² = 0.751), while IRCA 41 is positioned as the material with the highest productive potential under favorable conditions. These findings validate that a monitoring window of 36 to 48 months constitutes a statistically reliable parameter for the selection of outstanding genotypes, allowing for a substantial acceleration in the evaluation cycles of elite germplasm in the Mexican humid tropics.

Article Details

How to Cite
Ortiz-Cervantes, E., & Loyola, J. J. (2026). Early testing in Hevea brasiliensis: vigor, stability and climatic resilience in the humid tropics. Revista Latinoamericana De Recursos Naturales, 22, 57-65. Retrieved from https://revista.itson.edu.mx/index.php/rlrn/article/view/384
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Vol 22 (2026): January-December
Section
Original Article
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

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