Branch enhancement growth Branch enhancement growth is done with purpose to enhance growth at a faster rate if the tree

does not grow branch by itself. In additional to these, this will enable additional growth size of the leaf that contribute to better growth rate and shape of the tree. Currently there have been reports from the private sector affirming the success of the enhancement of the branch growth undergoing unbarring of leafs. Beside this, there are one question arise using chemical as a substance of branch enhancement growth. By introducing control barring of the leaf (one of the way introduce during a conference of small farmers 1984 and in the Siaran Bil. 94 Discember 1984), branch enhancement growth has to be done by using leaf folding methods. Usage of devices double blade ring cut device is not needed. Therefore this has brought out to research that has been carried out by Rubber Research Institute Malaysia (RRIM) upon the full extent method of unbarring leafs by chemical to enhance branch growth. Leafs folding method is also introduce in this reference source. Barring of the leafs Experience in the field has shown that when leafs has been bare from the plant as a result of draught, disease or etc; the growth of branch will increase. RRIM has also studied various degree of barring of leafs with different approach. Barring of all the leaf will bring result over 90 percent. However, this method is not recommended as this will cause shock to the plant. Chemical Research upon using chemical as to enhance branch growth is also limited to it cost and the availability of the chemical itself. From early research four chemical is studied. Soluble Maleic Hadrazida in water with concentration 500ppm and 1000ppm, morphactin CF 125 with concentration 6 and 12 ppm (2-kloroetil) fosfonik acid (etefon) with concentration of 1000 to 2000ppm and fosfonik acid 2,2-di metil hidrazida (Alar 85) with concentration 2000 and 4000ppm is spary to the leafs from above. Result has shown that Maleic Hidrazida with concentration 1000ppm and Etefon with concentration 2000ppm gives the best results. Many of the plant with branches increase from 36% under control condition to 80% by Maliec Hidrazida and 73% for Etefon. However the chemical also cause 50% to 60% of the plant which has been treated lost the stem. Currently new chemical which is available can be obtain for further research and the result from the chemical is also favourable. Early research by RRIM, using RRIM 623 plant age 11 months and cultivated plant with PB 255 age of 8 months has shown that the new method to enhance branch growth using chemical has produce 100% branch growth of 25 days compare to 61.5% and 75% branchingby control clone plant of RRIM 623 and PB 225 plants. The method only using slight barring of leafs and treatment of the stems with chemical. Barring of the leaf is ineffective compare to unbarring the leaf plus chemical treatment. Two chemical which is able to do the job is Atrinal

and benziladenina, however the optimum concentration or combination has to be determine first. Method of leaf folding/wrapping Leaf folding/wrapping method is done by wrapping the stem of the plant by folding it with leaf or using other leaf to wrap as a medium. Using the same method of folding or wrapping leaf depends on the maturity stage of the upper most leaf stem.