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Abstract
Vigor is important in rubber tree cropping because of its association with early latex exploitation, resistance to wind breakage and wood production. The objective of the present study was to assess the vigor stability of 25 rubber tree genotypes in the pre- and post-tapping phases using different methods. A randomized block design was used with three replications and six plants per plot. Seven annual trunk girth increments were used in the pre-tapping and six in the post-tapping phases. Stability was assessed by the methods by Wricke, Eberhart and Russell, Lin and Binns, and the AMMI statistical model (Model Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction). The association among the different stability parameters ωι, $$ \hat{S}_{di}^{2} $$, Pi, and IPCA 1 was verified by the Spearman correlation. Joint ANOVA showed highly significant effects for genotypes, years, and genotypes × years interaction in the two phases. In the pre-tapping phase, the IAC 311 genotype was stable in all the methods and in the post-tapping presented stability in Eberhart and Russell, Wricke, and AMMI. In the post-tapping phase, the IAC 312 genotype was stable in Eberhart and Russell, AMMI and Lin and Binns. While in the pre-tapping the correlations were positive and significant among all the parameters, in the post-tapping it only occurred between ωι with $$ \hat{S}_{di}^{2} $$ and ωι with IPCA 1. In the stability assessment of rubber tree vigor, the association among the methods depended on the assessment period. Stability methods based on different principles can show agreement in identifying stable genotypes in rubber tree vigor. The tapping procedure affected vigor stability of rubber trees.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]