The brown bast (BB) syndrome causes a 15-20% loss of annual rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) production in Malaysia, and no sustainable remedy has been developed yet. Initial investigation showed a macronutrients deficiency in the bark of affected plants compared to non-affected plants. Therefore, this study was undertaken to know the effect of spraying the deficient macronutrients in curing BB syndrome and increasing latex productivity. The treatments were selected by adjusting deficient nutrients, especially in N, K, and S, compared to healthy plants. The treatments consisted of 13 combinations of nutrient concentrations and a control (no application on healthy rubber trees). One liter of individual treatment per tree was applied on the trunk of BB-affected trees once a week for one month. Data on latex production was collected one week after the last application and continued for up to three months. The results showed that the treatment T9 (0.5% N, 0.8 mg/L K, and 0.2% S), in addition to other prescribed nutrients, made a 100% cure of BB syndrome after three weeks of application, and the nutrient contents of the bark of the affected plants appeared to be similar to the healthy plants. Applying these additional nutrients enhanced the latex production at the rate of 51.85 g/tapping/tree after two months of treatment application under the agro-ecosystem of FELCRA, Simpang Renggam, Johor, Malaysia. It is a new finding to 100% cure BB syndrome and to increase the latex productivity in sustaining the rubber industry in Malaysia.

• Budiasih, R., Salim, M. A., Apriani, I., Hasani, S., & Subandi, M. (2020). Effect of stimulant (ethephon) application and tapping frequency on latex production of rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.). Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science, 26(4), 793–799.

• Cheng, L., Li, H., Li, Z., Huang, Z., Lin, Y., Cai, L., & Yang, H. (2019). Effects of bark moisture content on brown bast disease incidence in rubber tree plantations. Forests, 10(5), 386.

• Chowdhury, S. A., Hossain, M. M., Uddin, M. K., & Rahman, M. M. (2019). Effects of different doses of NPK fertilizers on growth, yield and quality of latex in rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) trees. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 1-8.

• Daud, N. W. (2013). Rubber plantation: Soil management and nutritional requirements. UPM Press.

• Forster, J. C. (1995). Soil sampling, handling, storage and analysis. In K. Alef & P. Nannipieri (Eds.), Methods in applied soil microbiology and biochemistry (pp. 49-121). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-012513840-6/50018-5

• Foster, H. L. (1971). Rapid routine soil and plant analysis without automatic equipment. East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal, 37(2), 160-170. https://doi.org/10.1080/00128325.1971.11662519

• Jones, J. M., Heineman, K. D., & Dalling, J. W. (2019). Soil and species effects on bark nutrient storage in a premontane tropical forest. Plant and Soil, 438, 347-360. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-019-04026-9

• Karunanayake, L., & Priyanthi Perera, G. M. (2006). Effect of magnesium and phosphate ions on the stability of concentrated natural rubber latex and the properties of natural rubber latex-dipped product. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 99(6), 3120-3124. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.22944

• Kashyap, R. K. (2009). Soil fertility, fertilizer, and integrated nutrient management. Oxford Book Company.

• Keralafarmer. (2010, 14 January). Complete remedy for brown bast on rubber trees. http://agropedia.iitk.ac.in/content/complete-remedy-brown-bast-rubber-trees

• Keralafarmer. (2019, 30 December). Brown bast in rubber trees can be cured. http://agropedia.iitk.ac.in/content/remedy-bown-bast

• Kowalenko, C. G. (2001). Assessment of Leco CNS-2000 analyser for simultaneously measuring total carbon, nitrogen, and sulphur in soil. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 32(13-14), 2065-2078. https://doi.org/10.1081/CSS-120000269

• Kumari, P. V. K., Yarraguntla, S. R., Sharmila, M., & Gulibindala, E. (2021). Application of Box-Behnken design for formulation parameters of eslicarbazepine tablets. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 83(3), 575-583. https://doi.org/10.36468/pharmaceutical-sciences.808

• Lacote, R., Gabla, O., Obouayeba, S., Eschbach, J. M., Rivano, F., Dian, K., & Gohet, E. (2010). Long-term effect of ethylene stimulation on the yield of rubber trees is linked to latex cell biochemistry. Field Crops Research, 115(1), 94–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2009.10.007

• Lin, H.-Y., & Lai, L.-S. (2009). Isolation and viscometric characterization of hydrocolloids from mulberry (Morus alba L.) leave. Food Hydrocolloids, 23(3), 840-848. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2008.03.018

• Malaysian Rubber Board. (2009). Fertilizer application and field maintenance. In Rubber plantation and processing technologies (pp. 23-25). Malaysia Rubber Board Kuala Press.

• Malaysian Rubber Council. (n.d.). Malaysian rubber production, consumption, and trade. MRC. https://www.myrubbercouncil.com/industry/malaysia_production.php

• Mokhatar, S. J., Daud, N. W., & Ishak, C. F. (2012). Response of Hevea brasiliensis (RRIM 2001) planted on an oxisol to different rates of fertilizer application. Malaysian Journal of Soil Science, 16(1), 57-69.

• Nandris, D., Moreau, R., Pellegrin, F., Chrestin, H., Abina, J., & Angui, P. (2004). Rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) bark necrosis syndrome II: First comprehensive report on causal stresses. Plant Disease, 88(9), 1047. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS.2004.88.9.1047A

• Nazri, A. Z. (2020). Transcriptome analyses of tapping panel dryness (TPD) in Hevea brasiliensis treated with latex stimulant RRIM HYDROBEST™. Journal of Tropical Plant Physiology, 12(1), 13-26. https://doi.org/10.56999/jtpp.2020.12.1.2

• Nik Hashyati, N. H., Sulaiman, Z., Salisu, M. A., Samad, M. Y. A., Mohamed, M. T. M., Mokhtar, M. S. J., Ghani, Z. A. B., & Adinan, A. (2022). Application of different rates and frequencies of rejuvenator for the treatments of brown bast syndrome on Hevea brasiliensis. Indian Journal of Agricultural Research, 56(4), 469-473. https://doi.org/10.18805/ijare.af-678

• Njukeng, J. N., Ehabe, E. E., Nkeng, G. E., Schicks, J., Kratz, S., & Schnug, E. (2013). Investigations on the nutritional status of Hevea brasiliensis plantations in the humid forest zone of Cameroon Part 2: Establishment of macronutrient norms. Journal for Kulturpflanzen, 65(10), 376-384. https://doi.org/10.5073/JFK.2013.10.02

• Paul, V., Ramesh, K. V., & Pandey, R. (2017). Analysis of mineral nutrients: Sampling techniques and methods of digestion for plant samples. In Manual of ICAR sponsored training programme for technical staff of ICAR institutes on “Physiological Techniques to Analyze the Impact of Climate Change on Crop Plants” (pp. 77-81). Indian Agricultural Research Institute. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.23335.44967

• Priyadarshan, P. M. (2003). Contributions of weather variables for specific adaptation of rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg) clones. Genetics and Molecular Biology, 26(4), 435–440. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1415-47572003000400006

• Qi, D., Zhou, J., Xie, G., & Wu, Z. (2014). Studies on rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) trees exist plant type after planting and available tapping tree of rubber plantation in China. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 5(20), 3017-3021. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2014.520318

• Rhoades, J. D. (1993). Electrical conductivity methods for measuring and mapping soil salinity. In D. L. Sparks (Ed.), Advances in Agronomy (Vol. 49, pp. 201- 251). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2113(08)60795-6

• Said, M. A. M., & Ghani, E. A. (2012, June 25-26). R&D transformation programme for the natural rubber industry [Paper presentation]. Proceeding of the 7th International Planters’ Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. https://rios.lgm.gov.my/cms/fedDigiContentDetail.jsp?searchText=&selTab=digiCon&id=vital1:80668&type=Article

• Sainoi, T., & Sdoodee, S. (2012). The impact of ethylene gas application on young tapping rubber trees. Journal of Agricultural Technology, 8(4), 1497-1507.

• Salisu, M. A., & Daud, N. W. (2016). Effect of fertilizer rates and soil series on root morphological traits and root: shoot ratio of immature natural rubber (Hevea brasiliensis). International Journal of Scientific and Engineering Research, 7(9), 1373–1378.

• Varley, J. A. (1966). Automatic methods for the determination of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium in plant material. Analyst, 91, 119-126. https://doi.org/10.1039/AN9669100119

• Venkatachalam, P., Thulaseedharan, A., & Raghothama, K. (2007). Identification of expression profiles of tapping panel dryness (TPD) associated genes from the latex of rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.). Planta, 226, 499–515. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-007-0500-8

• Wintering season forces villagers to do odd jobs for extra income. (2021, February 23). TheSun Daily. https://www.thesundaily.my/home/wintering-season-forces-villagers-to-do-odd-jobs-for-extra-income-GF6869967

• Zhang, Z., Li, X., He, J., & Zhang, L. (2021). Effects of bark moisture content and temperature on the occurrence of brown bast disease in Hevea brasiliensis. Journal of Central South University of Forestry and Technology, 41(4), 22-28.

• Zhou, L., Ye, X., Luo, Z., Peng, Y., & Chen, R. (2018). Effects of macro-nutrient fertilizer on latex yield and quality of Hevea

• brasiliensis Muell. Arg. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 41(3), 328-339.