Susceptibility of rubber trees to Loranthaceae in Gabon

Abstract In Gabon, two major species of Loranthaceae, Phragmanthera capitata (Sprengel) Balle and Globimetula braunii (Engl.) Danser to a lesser extent, parasitize Hevea brasiliensis (Mull.) Arg. The behavior of different clones of rubber trees facing the Loranthaceae parasitism has been studied in the large industrial plantation of Mitzic and in three neighboring smallholding plantations. The clones PR 261, RRIM 600 and PB 260, although never totally resistant, are far less susceptible to Loranthaceae than the clones AVROS 2037, PB 217, PB 235 and GT 1. The parasite development kinetics was more rapid on the most susceptible clones. Phellem thickness, cortical parenchyma thickness and tannin cell density were independent of susceptibility. The number of tree ramifications was significantly different between the clones. Interestingly, on the least susceptible trees, being also the most ramified, the parasite showed the slowest development.