Relationship between the Intensity of Latex Harvesting and the Tapping Panel Dryness Expression of Clone GT 1 of Hevea brasiliensis Muell Arg in South-East Côte d'Ivoire

Tapping panel dryness is an important limiting factor in rubber productivity of Hevea brasiliensis. In order to assess the sensitivity to this syndrome, the effect of two intensive latex harvesting technologies on moderately metabolized GT1 clone, has been studied in the South-Eastern region of Côte d'Ivoire. The rubber trees were planted according to the experimental mono-tree device, "One tree one plot design" a tree constituting a repetition, and 31 trees per treatment, selected on circumference and health status criteria. The parameters measured were rubber production, circumference increase, physiological profile and tapping panel dryness sensitivity. The results showed that induction of tapping panel dryness in latex harvesting system, S/2 d/3 6d/7 ET 10 % Pa 1 (1) 1/ w) was significantly low (0.18 ± 0,22 %) than that of the control (S d/1 6d/7 unstimulated, 1.43 ± 1.45 %). Productivity of this particular system was also good (62 ± 16.32 g.a-1.s-1) and it especially has less stress that can cause physiological fatigue, or even the notch dry. Otherwise, Rubber production, radial vegetative growth, physiological parameters of the latex and the tapping panel dryness rate were influenced by the two treatments applied to GT 1. In addition, the medium and high sucrose contents (16.5 ± 3.01%) and thiol group (0.51 ± 0.13 mmol.l-1) of the latex in the treatment (S/2 d/3 6d/7 ET 10% Pa 1 (1) 1 / w), were instrumental in the response to this stimulation. The sensitivity to the tapping panel dryness is in very close linear relation with the harvest intensity of the latex to which the GT 1 clone has been subjected. These results corroborate and confirm the moderate sensitivity to the tapping panel dryness of GT 1 clone.