| Abstract Detail
Secondary Metabolism Hathwaik, Upul, I [1], Durant, Kacey [2], Villaluz, Evan [2], Harmon, Daniel [3], Young, James [3], Shintani, David, K [2]. Screening Chrysothamnus nauseosus (Rabbit Brush) Populations for Variation in Rubber Content and Quality. Chrysothamnus nauseosus, Rabbit brush, has been known to produce high quality rubber with yields ranging from 1.5% to 6.5% of shoot dry weight. Since Rabbit brush thrives in marginal soils and under drought conditions, it is an ideal crop for lands currently considered as non-arable. Preliminary studies were performed to determine the natural variation in rubber content and quality produced by wild strands of Rabbit brush. Samples were collected from fourteen different sites in Nevada and California. From these studies high rubber producing sites were identified for further investigation. Rabbit brush samples from four different sites were used to study the rubber production and quality throughout the summer season. Samples were collected from the same plants every two weeks for about five months. The variation of rubber content and the quality was compared to environmental factors such as temperature and precipitation during this period of time in the designated areas. Furthermore, whole plants were collected at the beginning and the end of the collection period from each location. Seeds from each plant were collected at the end of the collection period for future experiments. The washed rubber particle proteins from Rabbit brush will be characterized and compared to Russian Dandelion (Taraxacum kok-saghyz) and Guayule (Parthenium argentatum) other members of the compositae family. The outcome of these experiments may help identify a high yielding good quality rubber producing Chrysothamnus nauseosus subspecies. Overall goals of this project are to improve rubber quality and quantity in Rabbit brush and introduce it to the United States as a good economical alternative source of rubber. Log in to add this item to your schedule
1 - University of Nevada Reno, Biochemistry, Fa 311 ms 200, 1664 N Virginia Street, Reno, NV, 89557 2 - University of Nevada Reno, Biochemistry 3 - USDA-ARS Reno
Keywords: Rubber Rabbit brush.
Presentation Type: Plant Biology Abstract Session: P Location: Exhibit Hall (Northeast, Southwest & Southeast)/Hilton Date: Sunday, July 8th, 2007 Time: 8:00 AM Number: P20049 Abstract ID:2471 |