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Submitted to: Association for the Advancement of Industrial Crops Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2003 Publication Date: 10/12/2003 Citation: Cornish, K. 2003. Biochemical regulation of rubber biosynthesis in guayule. Association for the Advancement of Industrial Crops Conference. p.3. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Natural rubber is an irreplaceable raw material vital to industry, transportation, medicine and defense, which is largely produced from clonal plantations of Hevea brasiliensis in South-east Asia. Temperate-zone rubber-producing crops are greatly desired to increase biodiversity, protect supplies, and provide a safe natural-rubber alternative for the large numbers of people suffering from Type I latex allergy to proteins in latex products. We have used a combination of basic and applied research approaches, from biochemistry and metabolic engineering to process chemistry and performance testing, to make the production of latex from Parthenium argentatum (guayule) a commercial reality. However, new guayule lines are still desired with higher latex yields, improved agronomic characteristics and broader growth range. Understanding the biochemical regulation of rubber yield (principally rate) and quality (principally molecular weight) in guayule is an essential preliminary to the identification and manipulation of key regulatory steps. In this presentation, the biochemical regulation of guayule rubber biosynthesis will be discussed, and features unique to guayule highlighted. |
