A Review of a Century of Studies on South American Leaf Blight of the Rubber Tree

Abstract

In the past, South American leaf blight (SALB) of the rubber tree has been responsible for very severe damage in rubber plantations in South America. It is still the main obstacle holding back the development of rubber cultivation on the American continent and is a major risk for Asia and Africa, which are still exempt from this scourge. However, knowledge about the disease and about rubber tree resistance factors has progressed over the last decade, suggesting some solutions, notably for varietal improvement. This article is an overview of knowledge on this subject, particularly the most recent achievements.