Enzymatic variability in natural populations of Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex Adr. de Juss.) Müell. Arg.

In order to infer on the genetic structure and to quantify the genetic variability between two natural populations of rubber trees through isoenzymic characterization rubber tree seeds were collected in the State of Acre. Electrophoretic analyses were carried out in starch gel with fresh leaflets extracts for four enzymatic loci (MDH-A, LAP-A, PAT-2, and SKDH). The assessed variability parameters present high genetic variation levels for both rubber tree populations (HT= 0.3356). This value is superior to other average tropical arboreal species. The largest part of the total variability is found within the populations (99,85%). The estimates for the outcrossing rate (t= 64,46% e 64,15%) of rubber tree in natural populations indicate a tendency of that species to belong to the intermediate group of plants concerning on mating system