YRC advances rubber tree disease study with pesticide selection

Hiratsuka, Japan – Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd (YRC) has confirmed the effectiveness of selected pesticides in field evaluations under an international research project aimed at controlling rubber tree leaf fall disease (LFD).

Based in Indonesia, the study, conducted between 2020 and 2025, aimed to develop technologies to “prevent and control” LFD and to create novel microbial biofungicides to address the disease.

The project, which was conducted in collaboration with Japanese, Indonesian partners, carried out screening and selection of pesticides, and field evaluations were conducted at test farm and corporate plantations.

Evaluations at small farms, which are the target of the research, began in September last year, continued a release issued by the Japanese group 24 Aug.

At each stage of the five-year study, YRC investigated “the presence or absence of pesticides in natural rubber latex and their effects on the properties of natural rubber and vulcanised rubber.”

“All planned field evaluations have demonstrated the effectiveness of the selected pesticides,” YRC said, noting that “the proper application and use of those pesticides do not affect rubber’s quality.”

The project, YRC said, is now planning to “move fully into a practical phase that will include the registration of pesticides to be used in Indonesia.”

YRC is participating as a cooperating corporation in the project, which is part of the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) programme.

The initiative is being jointly implemented by the Japan Science and Technology Agency and Japan International Cooperation Agency.

According to the tire & rubber products group, the spread of LFD in Indonesia has severely reduced the country’s production of rubber.

The research project aims to stabilise production by smallholders, which account for more than 90% of Indonesia’s natural rubber production.