Sample records for guayule

  1. Guayule resin detection and influence on guayule rubber

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Guayule (Parthenium argentatum) is a natural rubber (cis-1,4-polyisoprene) producing crop, native to North America. Guayule also produces organic resins, complex mixtures of terpenes, triglycerides, guayulins, triterpenoids and other components. During natural rubber extraction, guayule resins can b...

  2. A century of guayule: Comprehensive genetic characterization of the US national guayule (Parthenium argentatum A. Gray) germplasm collection

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    The fragility of a single-source, geographically concentrated supply of natural rubber, a critical material of the modern economy, has brought guayule (Parthenium argentatum A. Gray) to the forefront as an alternative source of natural rubber. The improvement of guayule for commercial-scale producti...

  3. Techno-economic analysis of guayule (parthenium argentatum) pyrolysis biorefining: production of biofuels from guayule bagasse via tail-gas reactive pyrolysis

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    The tire industry is currently considering natural rubber from guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray) as a viable alternative to imported Hevea natural rubber, or petroleum-based synthetics, to meet expanding materials needs of the industry, however, only 5-10% of the harvested guayule plant is conver...

  4. Guayule (parthenium argentatum) pyrolysis biorefining: production of hydrocarbon compatible bio-oils from guayule bagasse via tail-gas reactive pyrolysis

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Guayule (Parthenium argentatum) is a woody desert shrub grown in the southwestern United States as a source of natural rubber, organic resins, and high energy biofuel feedstock from crop residues. We used guayule bagasse, the residual biomass after latex extraction as feedstock in a pyrolysis proces...

  5. Protein influences on guayule and Hevea natural rubber sol and gel

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Guayule (Parthenium argentatum) is under cultivation in the southwestern United States as an alternative source of natural rubber free from proteins that cause Type I latex allergies. However, since guayule lacks the protein-polymer interactions present in Hevea latex, its physical and chemical prop...

  6. Transcriptome and gene expression analysis in cold-acclimated guayule (Parthenium argentatum)rubber-producing tissue

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Natural rubber biosynthesis in guayule (Parthenium argentatum) is associated with moderately cold night temperatures. To begin to dissect the molecular events triggered by cold temperatures that govern rubber synthesis induction in guayule, the transcriptome of bark tissue, where rubber is produced...

  7. Surface irrigation management for guayule rubber production in the US desert southwest

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Agricultural production of the desert shrub, guayule (Parthenium argentatum G.), requires judicious management of irrigation water for achieving economic yields and high water productivity. This study expands existing, but limited and dated knowledge on irrigation management of guayule. A 29-month g...

  8. Valorization of guayule as a feedstock for lignocellulosic biorefineries using ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX) pretreatment

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Natural rubber latex extraction from guayule leaves behind greater than 80% (by weight) of agricultural residue as a feedstock suitable for conversion to biofuels via a thermochemical or biochemical route. Untreated guayule shrub and bagasse (after latex extraction) has shown to be very recalcitrant...

  9. Blends of guayule natural rubber latex with commercial latex polymers

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Guayule (Parthenium argentatum) is a woody desert shrub that produces natural rubber, cis-1,4 polyisoprene, by biosynthesis. It is currently cultivated in the southwestern United States as a source of latex and rubber for commercial development. Guayule latex is similar to Hevea latex in polymer mo...

  10. Electron microscopy of hydrocarbon production in parthenium argentatum (guayule)

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bauer, Thomas E.

    1977-11-01

    The electron microscope was used to study the biological processes involved in hydrocarbon production. The little desert shrub Guayule (Parthenium argentatum) was selected for study. This shrub can produce hydrocarbons (rubber) in concentrations up to 1/4 of its dry weight. It grows on semi-arid land and has been extensively studied. The potential of Guayule is described in detail. Results of an investigation into the morphology of Guayule at the electron microscope level are given. Experiments, which would allow the biosynthesis of hydrocarbon in Guayule to be followed, were designed. In order to do this, knowledge of the biochemistry of rubbermore » formation was used to select a tracer, mevalonic acid. Mevalonic acid is the precursor of all the terpenoids, a large class of hydrocarbons which includes rubber. It was found that when high enough concentrations of mevalonic acid are administered to seedling Guayule plants, build-ups of metabolized products are found within the chloroplasts of the seedlings. Also, tritium labeled mevalonic acid was used as a precursor, and its metabolic progress was followed by using the technique of electron microscope autoradiography. The results of these experiments also implicated chloroplasts of the Guayule plant in hydrocarbon production. The final task was the development of a system to produce three-dimensional stereo reconstructions of organelles suspected of involvement in hydrocarbon biosynthesis in Guayule. The techniques are designed to reconstruct an object from serial sections of that object. The techniques use stereo imaging both to abstract information for computer processing, and also in the computer produced reconstruction.« less

  11. Breeding Guayule: how far have we come and how far can we go?

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Guayule lines from the 1940s yielded less than 350 lb rubber/acre/year. Using the available germplasm from this earlier era, guayule rubber yields have increased significantly, between 830 lb rubber/acre/year and 1,000 lb rubber/ acre, through the efforts of a few, but dedicated researchers. Improve...

  12. Influence of salinity and boron on germination, seedling growth and transplanting mortality of guayule: a combined growth chamber and greenhouse study

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Guayule (Parthenium argentatum A.Gray), a drought tolerant plant, originating from southwestern United States and northern Mexico, is considered to be a promising rubber-producing plant for arid and semiarid areas. To evaluate the potential of guayule as an alternative crop for saline boron-laden so...

  13. Guayule (parthenium argentatum) pyrolysis biorefining: fuels and chemicals contributed from guayule leaves via tail gas reactive pyrolysis

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Guayule (Parthenium argentatum), a woody desert shrub cultivated in the southwestern United States, is a source of natural rubber and organic resins that promises to revolutionize the tire and rubber industry. Some 20,000 kg ha-1 yr-1 is reported to be harvested worldwide and expected to grow due to...

  14. Enhancement of in vitro Guayule propagation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dastoor, M. N.; Schubert, W. W.; Petersen, G. R. (Inventor)

    1982-01-01

    A method for stimulating in vitro propagation of Guayule from a nutrient medium containing Guayule tissue by adding a substituted trialkyl amine bioinducing agent to the nutrient medium is described. Selective or differentiated propagation of shoots or callus is obtained by varying the amounts of substituted trialky amine present in the nutrient medium. The luxuriant growth provided may be processed for its poly isoprene content or may be transferred to a rooting medium for production of whole plants as identical clones of the original tissue. The method also provides for the production of large numbers of Guayule plants having identical desirable properties such as high polyisoprene levels.

  15. Low light and low ammonium are key factors for guayule leaf tissue shoot organogenesis and transformation.

    PubMed

    Dong, Niu; Montanez, Belen; Creelman, Robert A; Cornish, Katrina

    2006-02-01

    A new method has been developed for guayule tissue culture and transformation. Guayule leaf explants have a poor survival rate when placed on normal MS medium and under normal culture room light conditions. Low light and low ammonium treatment greatly improved shoot organogenesis and transformation from leaf tissues. Using this method, a 35S promoter driven BAR gene and an ubiquitin-3 promoter driven GUS gene (with intron) have been successfully introduced into guayule. These transgenic guayule plants were resistant to the herbicide ammonium-glufosinate and were positive to GUS staining. Molecular analysis showed the expected band and signal in all GUS positive transformants. The transformation efficiency with glufosinate selection ranged from 3 to 6%. Transformation with a pBIN19-based plasmid containing a NPTII gene and then selection with kanamycin also works well using this method. The ratio of kanamycin-resistant calli to total starting explants reached 50% in some experiments.

  16. Weed control in a native rubber crop (Parthenium argentatum gray)

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Whitworth, J.W.

    1978-01-01

    There is a renewed interest in the production of rubber from guayule (Parthenium argentatum). Excellent control of several weed species in guayule has been obtained with Varsol (a naphtha oil) at 30-40 gal/acre applied at the cotyledon stage. At this stage, guayule survival averaged 86-63% according to dose, but plants up to 10 days old at the time of treatment showed increasing tolerance. Paraffin was somewhat more selective that Varsol.

  17. Preliminary results of in vitro propagation of Guayule

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dastoor, M. N.; Schubert, W. W.; Petersen, G. R.

    1981-01-01

    Guayule, Parthenium argentatum Gray, was first established in tissue culture by Bonner and Arreguin (1950) as a means to study the effects of various chemicals and extracts on rubber production. The propagation of whole guayule plants from tissue culture, however, has not been accomplished. The reported investigation is concerned with such an objective. In an attempt to stimulate rubber production in Guayule, Yokoyama et al. (1977) sprayed juvenile plants with 2-(3,4-dichloro-phenoxy)triethylamine (TEA derivative). This treatment resulted in increased isoprenoid levels in the plant tissue. In the current investigation, experiments were conducted to study the effect of TEA derivative on in vitro cultures. It was found that a suppression of callus formation occurs at a 10 mg/L concentration of TEA derivative with a resultant increase of shoot formation. Lower and higher concentrations of TEA derivative promote callus formation.

  18. Modular assembly of transposable element arrays by microsatellite targeting in the guayule and rice genomes.

    PubMed

    Valdes Franco, José A; Wang, Yi; Huo, Naxin; Ponciano, Grisel; Colvin, Howard A; McMahan, Colleen M; Gu, Yong Q; Belknap, William R

    2018-04-19

    Guayule (Parthenium argentatum A. Gray) is a rubber-producing desert shrub native to Mexico and the United States. Guayule represents an alternative to Hevea brasiliensis as a source for commercial natural rubber. The efficient application of modern molecular/genetic tools to guayule improvement requires characterization of its genome. The 1.6 Gb guayule genome was sequenced, assembled and annotated. The final 1.5 Gb assembly, while fragmented (N 50  = 22 kb), maps > 95% of the shotgun reads and is essentially complete. Approximately 40,000 transcribed, protein encoding genes were annotated on the assembly. Further characterization of this genome revealed 15 families of small, microsatellite-associated, transposable elements (TEs) with unexpected chromosomal distribution profiles. These SaTar (Satellite Targeted) elements, which are non-autonomous Mu-like elements (MULEs), were frequently observed in multimeric linear arrays of unrelated individual elements within which no individual element is interrupted by another. This uniformly non-nested TE multimer architecture has not been previously described in either eukaryotic or prokaryotic genomes. Five families of similarly distributed non-autonomous MULEs (microsatellite associated, modularly assembled) were characterized in the rice genome. Families of TEs with similar structures and distribution profiles were identified in sorghum and citrus. The sequencing and assembly of the guayule genome provides a foundation for application of current crop improvement technologies to this plant. In addition, characterization of this genome revealed SaTar elements with distribution profiles unique among TEs. Satar targeting appears based on an alternative MULE recombination mechanism with the potential to impact gene evolution.

  19. Amino acid modifiers in guayule rubber compounds

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Tire producers are increasingly interested in biobased materials, including rubber but also as compounding chemicals. An alternative natural rubber for tire use is produced by guayule, a woody desert shrub native to North America. Alternative compounding chemicals include naturally-occurring amino a...

  20. BIO-OIL FROM GUAYULE BAGASSE

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Guayule, Parthenium argentatum, has recently been commercialized as a domestic source of rubber, primarily sold as latex for circum-allergenic medical applications. Latex extraction leaves ~90% of the crop biomass as a finely-divided, free flowing feedstock suitable for conversion to biofuels. Fast ...

  1. Guayule (Parthenium argentatum)pyrolysis and analysis by PY-GC/MS

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Economic and sustainable biofuel production requires high process efficiency. The choice of biomass and the conversion technology employed to produce renewable fuels determines the product yields, fuel quality and consequently the process efficiency. Guayule, a perennial shrub native to the southwes...

  2. CHARACTERIZATION AND RECYCLING OF WASTE WATER FROM GUAYULE LATEX EXTRACTION

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Guayule commercialization for latex production to be used in medical products and other applications is now a reality. Currently, waste water following latex extraction is discharged into evaporation ponds. As commercialization reaches full scale, the liquid waste stream from latex extraction will b...

  3. Genomic diversity and phylogenetic relationships in the genus Parthenium (Asteraceae)

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Guayule (Parthenium argentatum A. Gray) is a perennial hardwood shrub native to the North American Chihuahuan Desert that holds promise as a sustainable source of natural rubber and hypoallergenic latex. The improvement of guayule for commercial-scale production could be potentially accelerated thro...

  4. Analysis of cold-acclimated guayule transcriptome

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    The perennial shrub commonly know as guayule (Partheniun argentatum), native of the Chihuahuan desert, is a rubber producing plant currently being develop as a domestic source of high quality natural rubber essential for the manufacturing of several consumer products for which the use of synthetic r...

  5. Effect of non-rubber constituents on Guayule and Hevea rubber intrinsic properties

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    To meet the increasing demand for natural rubber (NR), currently sourced from the tropical rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis, and address price volatility and steadily increasing labor costs, alternate rubber-producing species are in commercial development. One of these, guayule (Parthenium argentatum)...

  6. A sustainability review of domestic rubber from the guayule plant

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray) is an arid-adapted, low-input perennial shrub native to Mexico and southern Texas that has received considerable attention as an alternative source of natural rubber. It has potential to replace the most common types of rubbers, including synthetic rubber derived...

  7. Performance of USDA guayule lines in the Northern Negev of Israel

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Mills, D.; Benzioni, A.; Forti, M.

    The rubber yield of the guayule plant (Parthenium argentatum) is determined by its rubber concentration and biomass production, both of which are a function of genetic constituents and environmental conditions. With the aim of selecting best performing lines of guayule under the climatic conditions of the northern Negev of Israel, two-yr-old guayule plants from 13 USDA lines were evaluated for height, spread, canopy fresh and dry weight, branch and leaf dry weight, rubber and resin concentration, and rubber and resin yield per plant. Significant differences were found among the lines for all the characteristics tested. Lines 11600 and 11604 excelledmore » in rubber and biomass production and were taller and more uniform than the other lines; whereas line N593, conventionally used as a standard, performed poorly and was less uniform. The correlation between rubber yield per plant and rubber concentration was poor, rubber yield being related mainly to biomass production and to a lesser degree to height and spread of the plants. Taken together with fact that biomass production was more variable than rubber concentration, this finding suggests that breeding and selection of guayule and for high rubber yield should be directed primarily towards improvement of biomass production rather than rubber concentration. In the northern Negev of Israel, USDA lines 11600 and 11604 performed well.« less

  8. Tissue-Culture Method of Cloning Rubber Plants

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ball, E. A.

    1983-01-01

    Guayule plant, a high-yield rubber plant cloned by tissue-culture method to produce multiple new plants that mature quickly. By adjusting culture medium, excised shoot tip produces up to 50 identical guayule plants. Varying concentration of cytokinin, single excised tip produces either 1 or several (up to 50) new plants.

  9. The guayule plant : a renewable, domestic source of binder materials for flexible pavement mixtures.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2013-01-01

    The guayule (pronounced 'why-YOU-lee') plant grows in arid and semi-arid regions (e.g. the southwestern U.S.) and is a source of natural rubber. It was cultivated and processed during the World War II rubber shortage and is currently being processed ...

  10. A study of amino acid modifiers in guayule natural rubber

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Natural rubber from the Hevea tree is a critical agricultural material vital to United States industry, medicine, and defense, yet the country is dependent on imports to meet domestic needs. Guayule, a desert shrub indigenous to the US, is under development as an alternative source of natural rubber...

  11. Phenotypic variations, heritability and correlations in dry biomass, rubber and resin production among guayule germplasm

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Gauyaule (Parthenium argentatum Gray) originated in the Southern Texas and northern Mexico deserts, which suggests it as a good candidate for arid and semi-arid sustainable agricultural systems to produce natural rubber and industrial byproducts. Continued improvement of guayule for higher biomass, ...

  12. Fructan reduction by downregulation of 1-SST in guayule

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    The natural rubber producing plant Parthenium argentatum (guayule) stores carbohydrates mainly in the form of fructans, which are synthesized and stored in the same tissues at the same time as the rubber polymer. The first committed step to fructan synthesis is catalyzed by sucrose:sucrose-1-fructos...

  13. A study of protein and amino acids in guayule natural rubber

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Natural rubber (NR) from Hevea brasiliensis (the Hevea rubber tree) is a critical agricultural material vital to United States industry, medicine, and defense, yet the country is dependent on NR imports to meet domestic needs. Parthenium argentatum (guayule), a woody desert shrub indigenous to the U...

  14. Energy-dense liquid fuel intermediates by pyrolysis of guayule (Parthenium argentatum) shrub and bagasse

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Guayule is a perennial shrub grown in the southwestern United States that is used to produce high quality, natural rubber latex. However, only about 10% of the plant material is used for latex production; the remaining biomass, called bagasse, can be used for renewable fuel production. Fast pyroly...

  15. Laboratory and field studies of guayule modified to overexpress HMGR

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    We report the genetic modification of guayule to overexpress the isoprenoid pathway enzyme HMGR. The rubber content of two-month old in vitro transformed plantlets showed a 65% increase in rubber over the control for one line (HMGR6), and lower resin for another (HMGR2). In field evaluations HMGR6...

  16. Molten salt pyrolysis of latex. [synthetic hydrocarbon fuel production using the Guayule shrub

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bauman, A. J. (Inventor)

    1981-01-01

    Latex-rich plants such as Guayule or extracts thereof are pyrolyzed in an inert nitrogen atmosphere inorganic salt melts such as a LiCl/KCl eutectic at a temperature of about 500 C. The yield is over 60% of a highly aromatic, combustible hydrocarbon oil suitable for use as a synthetic liquid fuel.

  17. Durability of wood/plastic composites made from Parthenium species

    Treesearch

    Poo Chow; Francis S. Nakayama; John A. Youngquist; James H. Muehl; Andrzej M. Krzysik

    2002-01-01

    Previous study indicated that the natural chemical constituents of the guayule plant (Parthenium argentatum) improved some durability properties of wood when it was treated with resin extracted from guayule. At present, there are about a dozen species of Parthenium growing in the North American continent. P. argentatum is the only species with harvestable amounts of...

  18. Preliminary investigation on the natural durability of guayule (Parthenium argentatum) based wood products

    Treesearch

    Francis S. Nakayama; Poo. Chow; Dilpreet S. Bajwa; John A. Youngquist; James H. Muehl; Andrzej M. Krzysik

    2000-01-01

    Conventional preservatives used to protect wood from insect and microbial damages are presently of major concern to human health and the environment. Finding alternative and economical preservatives has not been successful. Previous studies have shown that the resinous material extracted from the guayule plant (Parthenium argentatum, Gray) has both insect- and...

  19. Securing the future of natural rubber – an American tire and bio-energy platform from guayule

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    There is a high level of interest in alternative sources of natural rubber for the tire industry due to both the price and supply volatility of Hevea brasiliensis. The guayule plant (Parthenium argentatum) has served as a major source of domestic natural rubber in the early 20th century and is being...

  20. Seed set in guayule (Parthenium argentatum, Asteraceae) in relation to insect pollination

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Mamood, A.N.; Waller, G.D.; Ray, D.T.

    Guayule (Parthenium argentatum, Asteraceae) is one of two major plant species grown for natural rubber. Studies were conducted to determine the effect of honey bee (Apis mellifera) pollination and season on seed set and total seed yield/ha. The experiments involved four pollination treatments: plants caged with bees; plants caged without bees; plants open pollinated (uncovered); and plants individually covered. Seeds were harvested monthly July-September 1984, and May-September 1985. Plots with bees produced at least 150% more seeds than plots without bees, and there were no qualitative differences in the seed weights among treatments. Highest seed yield was in May andmore » September. Results indicate that (1) insect pollination in guayule increases seed yield and (2) fewer seeds are produced in the warmest months.« less

  1. Chemical Growth Regulators for Guayule Plants

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dastoor, M. N.; Schubert, W. W.; Petersen, G. R.

    1982-01-01

    Test Tubes containing Guayule - tissue cultures were used in experiments to test effects of chemical-growth regulators. The shoots grew in response to addition of 2-(3,4-dichlorophenoxy)-triethylamine (triethylamine (TEA) derivative) to agar medium. Preliminary results indicate that a class of compounds that promotes growth in soil may also promote growth in a culture medium. Further experiments are needed to define the effect of the TEA derivative.

  2. Development of guayule (parthenium argentatum)

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ball, E. A.

    1981-01-01

    The cytokinin benzylaminopurine strongly stimulated shoot growth, and the number of regenerated buds on the inoculum was proportional to its concentration. These buds produced shoots several centimeters in length which were caused to root on medium containing indolebutyric acid. Transferred to the septic condition of soil, the plantlets were gradually brought into full sunlight where they showed a brief vegetative growth with production of mature type leaves, and flowered. In contrast, seedlings of the same age remained vegetative. Chromosome studies of root smears from the tissue cultured plantlets showed that 2n = 36, the normal number for sexually reproducing guayules.

  3. Unraveling the mystery of natural rubber biosynthesis. Part II. Composition and growth of in vitro natural rubber using high-resolution size exclusion chromatography

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Chiang, Cheng Ching K.; Barkakaty, Balaka; Puskas, Judit E.

    The superior properties of natural rubber (cis-1,4-polyisoprene [NR]) are a function of its structure and composition, properties that still remain a mystery and that are irreplaceable by any synthetic rubber. NR from guayule (Parthenium argentatum) has been gaining special interest for its hypoallergenic properties while maintaining superior mechanical properties that are commonly associated with the Brazilian rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), the most common source of NR. Techniques exist to isolate washed rubber particles (WRPs) that contain enzymatically active rubber transferase, to study NR biosynthesis, and previous work on the in vitroNRgrowth in Hevea has demonstrated the presence of around 50wt%ofmore » a low molecular weight ([MW], Mn <10 000 g/mol) fraction. Structural and compositional analyses of this low MW fraction in Hevea are challenging due to the high protein content. Here, we discuss the analysis and composition of guayule latex and WRPs using high-resolution Size Exclusion Chromatography. We also discuss the composition of the soluble fraction of inactive guayule latex using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/time of flight mass spectrometry.« less

  4. Fuels from Biomass: Integration with Food and Materials Systems

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lipinsky, E. S.

    1978-01-01

    The development of fuels from biomass can lead naturally to dispersed facilities that incorporate food or materials production (or both) with fuel production. The author analyzes possible systems based on sugarcane, corn, and guayule. (Author/MA)

  5. Oils and rubber from arid land plants

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Johnson, J. D.; Hinman, C. W.

    1980-05-01

    In this article the economic development potentials of Cucurbita species (buffalo gourd and others), Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba), Euphorbia lathyris (gopher plant), and Parthenium argentatum (guayule) are discussed. All of these plants may become important sources of oils or rubber.

  6. The potential of energy farming in the southeastern California desert

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lew, V.

    1980-04-01

    The use of energy forms to provide future sources of energy for California is considered. Marginal desert lands in southeastern California are proposed for the siting of energy farms using acacia, eucalyptus, euphorbia, guayule, jojoba, mesquite, or tamarisk.

  7. A bicistronic transgene system for genetic modification of Parthenium argentatum

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Parthenium argentatum (guayule) was transformed with a bicistronic transgene containing a viral 2A cleavage sequence. The transgene includes the coding sequences of two key enzymes of the mevalonate pathway, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR) and farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPPS), ...

  8. Proteins and amino acids as biobased polymer modifiers

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Natural rubber (NR) is a critical agricultural material vital to industry, medicine, and defense, yet global supply is largely limited to latex from Hevea brasiliensis cultivated in tropical regions. Guayule (Parthenium argentatum), a woody desert shrub indigenous to the U.S. and Mexico, is under de...

  9. 2013-2014 Production of guayule natural rubber in Arizona, U.S.A.

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Natural rubber is a unique biopolymer whose physical properties cannot be replicated in synthetic alternatives; therefore, it is required for production of tires (passenger, truck, and aircraft) and thousands of consumer and medical products. While demand for natural rubber is expected to increase ...

  10. Emerging crops in the USDA arid lands germplasm collection

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    The USDA National Plant Germplasm System maintains collections of several emerging crops for arid lands at the National Arid Land Plant Genetic Resources Unit in Parlier, CA (NALPGRU). The guayule, jojoba, and prickly pear collections are most active in terms of current research and crop development...

  11. Expression of the cytoplasmic mevalonate pathway in chloroplasts

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Parthenium argentatum, commonly known as guayule, is a shrub in the Asteraceae family that is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. P. argentatum produces high quality rubber in bark tissue. As an industrial crop that grows in temperate climates, P. argentatum represents a vi...

  12. Calcium media improves regeneration of guayule

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Natural rubber is one of the largest agricultural exports in the world, valued at over $33 billion in 2011 (faostat.fao.org). A 20-30% increase in demand for natural rubber is expected over the next 10 years, driven mainly by rapid economic growth in China & India. Development of additional sources ...

  13. Impact of biofibers and coupling agents on the weathering characteristics of composites polymer degradation and stability

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    This paper explores the ultraviolet (UV) weathering performance of high density polyethylene (HDPE) composites with different biofiber fillers and coupling agent. Biofiber polymer composite (BFPC) material samples were prepared using oak, cotton burr and stem (CBS) or guayule bagasse as fiber source...

  14. Crystallization and Preliminary X-ray Analysis of Allene Oxide Synthase, Cytochrome P450 CYP74A2, from Parthenium argentatum

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Oxylipins are oxygenated derivatives of fatty acids and pivotal signaling molecules in plants and animals. Allene oxide synthase (AOS) is a key cytochrome P450 CYP74 enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of plant oxylipin jasmonates to convert 13(S)-hydroperoxide to allene oxide. Guayule (Parthenium a...

  15. Enhancement of polyisoprene latex production

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bauman, Albert J. (Inventor)

    1979-01-01

    Production of high molecular weight polyisoprene latex is enhanced by administering to plants, particularly Guayule Plants, an amine containing at least one two-carbon chain substituent and preferably substituted trialkylamine of the general structure: ##STR1## where R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are alkyl, preferably ethyl and at least one of R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 is preferably an electron withdrawing group substituted aryloxy or arylthio ethyl group.

  16. Identification of Barriers to More Effective Agricultural Water Management in the Salinas River Valley

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1991-12-01

    lettuce business, the beginnings of the artichoke industry, strawberry plantings, introduction of other vegetable crops, and the production of guayule...the diversity of crops grown here today. Artichokes , strawberries, and grapes have thrived in very specific areas of the County. Development of local... ARTICHOKES 8,260 6,970 36,510 23,147 CARROTS 5,090 3,180 16,870 11,401 PEPPERS 3,510 3,870 7,361 13,976 ONIONS 1,420 1,020 11,490 10,498 SUGAR BEETS

  17. Conversion of cellulosic wastes to liquid hydrocarbon fuels. Progress report, January-February 1981

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kuester, J.L.

    1981-01-01

    The following materials were processed thru gasification: sugarcane bagasse, smooth sumac, coralberry, wild bergamot, pokeweed, cornstarch, Portugese oak cork and hog fuel. A data summary is given. The high H/sub 2//CO ratio at low temperature for pokeweed is of significance (>T, >H/sub 2/). Also the high olefin content of Portugese oak cork (commercial cork) is of major interest. The most promising feedstock to date with regard to synthesis gas composition has been guayule cork. A comparison of data for the two cork materials is given. A detailed breakdown for corn starch is given revealing an exceptionally high methane content (35.50more » mole %). (MHR)« less

  18. Alternatives to petroleum-based biocides for protecting hardwood lumber and manufactured products. Transferring technologies for industry No. 4. Final report

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Murdoch, C.W.

    1993-03-30

    The report addresses the current and prospective mechanisms for developing environmentally responsible treatments for wood products that prevent stain, decay, and insect damage. The author examines various aspects of the problem and current prevention techniques, including an extended discussion of the attributes and shortcomings of six treatments reviewed by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, US Department of Agriculture, in An Efficacy Review of Control Measures for Potential Pests of Imported Soviet Timber. The portion of the report labeled Uncommercialized Technologies presents the new, uncommercialized technologies discovered through this project. They include: guayule shrub-derived wood preservative; biological control strategies;more » tannins derived from tree bark; insect-specific toxins from arthropod and vertebrate venoms; and natural biocidal repellents.« less

  19. Development of guayule (Parthenium argentatum) research in cell culture

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ball, E. A.

    1981-01-01

    Utilizing the lateral buds of known high rubber producing plants as explants in culture medium specifically designed to engender shoot development and to prevent callus formation, unlimited numbers of replicate plants can be produced. Each has the same genotype as the parent. This procedure has long been used to rid plants of virus, the latter generally does not occur in the embryonic tissues of the bud; it also, by virtue of its axenic nature, eliminates all microorganisms characteristic of the parent plant. Auxins were found essential to callus formation, but since the latter is known to bring about chromosomal aberrations, it was avoided. The cytokinin benzylaminopurine strongly stimulated shoot growth, and the number of regenerated buds on the inoculum was proportional to its concentration. These buds produced shoots several centimeters in length which were caused to root on medium containing indolebutyric acid. Transferred to the septic condition of soil, the plantlets were gradually brought into full sunlight where they showed a brief vegetative growth with production of mature leaves, and flowered.

  20. Identification of natural rubber and characterization of rubber biosynthetic activity in fig tree.

    PubMed

    Kang, H; Kang, M Y; Han, K H

    2000-07-01

    Natural rubber was extracted from the fig tree (Ficus carica) cultivated in Korea as part of a survey of rubber producing plants. Fourier transform infrared and (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of samples prepared by successive extraction with acetone and benzene confirmed that the benzene-soluble residues are natural rubber, cis-1,4-polyisoprene. The rubber content in the latex of fig tree was about 4%, whereas the rubber content in the bark, leaf, and fruit was 0.3%, 0.1%, and 0.1%, respectively. Gel-permeation chromatography revealed that the molecular size of the natural rubber from fig tree is about 190 kD. Similar to rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) and guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray), rubber biosynthesis in fig tree is tightly associated with rubber particles. The rubber transferase in rubber particles exhibited a higher affinity for farnesyl pyrophosphate than for isopentenyl pyrophosphate, with apparent K(m) values of 2.8 and 228 microM, respectively. Examination of latex serum from fig tree by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed major proteins of 25 and 48 kD in size, and several proteins with molecular mass below 20 and above 100 kD. Partial N-terminal amino acid sequencing and immunochemical analyses revealed that the 25- and 48-kD proteins were novel and not related to any other suggested rubber transferases. The effect of EDTA and Mg(2+) ion on in vitro rubber biosynthesis in fig tree and rubber tree suggested that divalent metal ion present in the latex serum is an important factor in determining the different rubber biosynthetic activities in fig tree and rubber tree.

  1. Identification of Natural Rubber and Characterization of Rubber Biosynthetic Activity in Fig Tree1

    PubMed Central

    Kang, Hunseung; Kang, Min Young; Han, Kyung-Hwan

    2000-01-01

    Natural rubber was extracted from the fig tree (Ficus carica) cultivated in Korea as part of a survey of rubber producing plants. Fourier transform infrared and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of samples prepared by successive extraction with acetone and benzene confirmed that the benzene-soluble residues are natural rubber, cis-1,4-polyisoprene. The rubber content in the latex of fig tree was about 4%, whereas the rubber content in the bark, leaf, and fruit was 0.3%, 0.1%, and 0.1%, respectively. Gel-permeation chromatography revealed that the molecular size of the natural rubber from fig tree is about 190 kD. Similar to rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) and guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray), rubber biosynthesis in fig tree is tightly associated with rubber particles. The rubber transferase in rubber particles exhibited a higher affinity for farnesyl pyrophosphate than for isopentenyl pyrophosphate, with apparent Km values of 2.8 and 228 μm, respectively. Examination of latex serum from fig tree by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed major proteins of 25 and 48 kD in size, and several proteins with molecular mass below 20 and above 100 kD. Partial N-terminal amino acid sequencing and immunochemical analyses revealed that the 25- and 48-kD proteins were novel and not related to any other suggested rubber transferases. The effect of EDTA and Mg2+ ion on in vitro rubber biosynthesis in fig tree and rubber tree suggested that divalent metal ion present in the latex serum is an important factor in determining the different rubber biosynthetic activities in fig tree and rubber tree. PMID:10889262

  2. Comparative analysis of the complete sequence of the plastid genome of Parthenium argentatum and identification of DNA barcodes to differentiate Parthenium species and lines

    PubMed Central

    2009-01-01

    Background Parthenium argentatum (guayule) is an industrial crop that produces latex, which was recently commercialized as a source of latex rubber safe for people with Type I latex allergy. The complete plastid genome of P. argentatum was sequenced. The sequence provides important information useful for genetic engineering strategies. Comparison to the sequences of plastid genomes from three other members of the Asteraceae, Lactuca sativa, Guitozia abyssinica and Helianthus annuus revealed details of the evolution of the four genomes. Chloroplast-specific DNA barcodes were developed for identification of Parthenium species and lines. Results The complete plastid genome of P. argentatum is 152,803 bp. Based on the overall comparison of individual protein coding genes with those in L. sativa, G. abyssinica and H. annuus, we demonstrate that the P. argentatum chloroplast genome sequence is most closely related to that of H. annuus. Similar to chloroplast genomes in G. abyssinica, L. sativa and H. annuus, the plastid genome of P. argentatum has a large 23 kb inversion with a smaller 3.4 kb inversion, within the large inversion. Using the matK and psbA-trnH spacer chloroplast DNA barcodes, three of the four Parthenium species tested, P. tomentosum, P. hysterophorus and P. schottii, can be differentiated from P. argentatum. In addition, we identified lines within P. argentatum. Conclusion The genome sequence of the P. argentatum chloroplast will enrich the sequence resources of plastid genomes in commercial crops. The availability of the complete plastid genome sequence may facilitate transformation efficiency by using the precise sequence of endogenous flanking sequences and regulatory elements in chloroplast transformation vectors. The DNA barcoding study forms the foundation for genetic identification of commercially significant lines of P. argentatum that are important for producing latex. PMID:19917140

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