The structures involved in latex production in rubber trees are articulated laticifers. The objective of this study was to describe anatomical aspects of the bark in four, six and eight year old non-grafted rubber plants, with the view of selecting materials of high yield potential. The analyzed material was obtained from bark cut around 1.50 m from the soil up to the xylem of the plant. The transversal cuts were prepared according to standard plant microtechniques. Based on the results, we can conclude that the use of anatomical characteristics (cell diameter), bark thickness and shoot diameter for selecting material from rootstocks plus non-grafted plants of different ages, showed a significant correlation with latex production.
anatomy; laticifers; rubber tree; production; Hevea brasiliensis
