Micrografting Technique of Hevea brasiliensis in Vitro Plantlets

To prepare Hevea brasiliensis plantations, selected planting material is propagated by grafting using illegitimate seedlings as rootstocks, whose paternal genotype is unknown. Recent advances in rubber tree in vitro cloning propagation open the possibility of using these techniques to supply new planting material. Micrografting is a promising technique to speed up the preparation of plant material for rootstock-scion interaction studies. This article describes the implementation of an efficient micrografting technique from Hevea in vitro plants from clone PB 260. The procedure combines several conditions to preserve the root system and the grafted scion and to prevent any breakage of rootstock buds. This technique paves the way for clonal propagation and holds potential for further development on other rubber clones for further studies on the interaction between rootstock and scion. Key features • This protocol requires rejuvenated in vitro plantlets. • Requires between 40 and 60 days before scion bud break. • Sterile working conditions. Graphical overview.