Calacarus heveaeFeres (Eriophyidae) and Tenuipalpus heveae Baker (Tenuipalpidae) can cause heavy defoliation of rubber tree plants. From the perspective of integrated pest management, resistant clones can be an important strategy. The objective of this work was to evaluate the resistance of rubber tree clones to the attack of mites, in an experiment carried out in Votuporanga, SP. The experimental design was a randomized blocks with eighteen treatments and three replications. The treatments were the clones PB 230, PB 243, PB 252, PB 294, PB 306, PB 311, PB 312, PB 314, PB 324, PB 346, PB 350, PB 355, IAC 56, IAC 302, IAC 328, IAC 334, Fx 3899 and RRIM 600. The evaluation of C. heveae and T. heveae populations was performed by counting mites and exuviae presence in six leaflets per plot. The defoliation levels were evaluated with a score scale, varying from 0 (no defoliation) to 4 (above 75% of defoliation). Based on the results, Fx 3899 clone is resistant through non-preference and/or antibiosis to C. heveae. The IAC 56 clone is less susceptible to defoliation caused by C. heveae and T. heveae infestation.
Hevea brasiliensis; Calacarus heveae; Tenuipalpus heveae; Acari
