Information on Rubber Tree Parasite Research Published

A book on Microcylcus uleï, the parasite fungus attacking South America’s rubber trees, has just been published by the International Rubber Research and Development Board (IRRDB) and the Common Fund for Commodities. It has been compiled following the international work group that was organised at Michelin’s Bahia Plantation in Brazil from November 26 to December 2, 2007. The book lists what is known about the disease and how to fight it.

Microcyclus uleï attacks only rubber trees, causing them to shed their leaves to fall prematurely and reducing the latex production. The tree, weakened, becomes vulnerable to other diseases and eventually dies. The objective of the many works launched by Michelin and the CIRAD (International Cooperation Centre of Agricultural Research for Development), in partnership with the IRRDB, is to find a way to fight this parasite fungus, which originated in Amazonia, before it migrates to Africa or Asia, where 96 per cent of the world’s natural rubber is produced.