A simple, accurate and quick method for determining DRC in fresh and ammoniated field latex was developed and standardised. The new procedure uses ethyl alcohol (70%) or Medispirit (70% isopropyl alcohol) as the coagulant. To about 15 ml of the coagulant taken in a petri dish, approximately 10g of fresh field latex was added drop by drop and swirled till it coagulated into a mass. The instantly formed coagulum was pressed using a flat glass stopper. After washing and rolling, the thin and tender coagulum required only 90-120 min. drying at 80oC for obtaining constant weight. On the contrary, the standard procedure for DRC estimation using dilute acetic acid as coagulant took 1-2 h for coagulum formation and about 16 h for drying to constant weight. The easy instant coagulation of field latex using the new alcohol coagulant is the novelty of the method and can be easily adopted in the field. Hence, this new method is very useful for the estimation of dry rubber yield of experimental plants in the field in the clone evaluation trials or in other field experiments requiring yield assessment as well as in Group Processing Centres etc.
Instant coagulation, Field latex, DRC estimation, Latex coagulant
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