GUAYULE (PARTHENIUM ARGENTATUM GRAY) AN UNDER-EXPLOITED RUBBER YIELDING PLANT FOR EXPLOITATION IN WASTELANDS

Abstract

Guayule, a desert shrub native to Mexico and South-west Texas (USA) is
currently being developed as a supplementary source of natural rubber in addition
to Hevea brasiliensis rubber. Natural rubber accounts for abot 30% of world's
total rubber production and is being preferred in comparison to synthetic rubber
due to certain unique characteristics of elasticity, flexibility, resilience and low
heat build up. Rubber in the guayule plant is located throughout the stem,
branches and roots and is ca 5-12 %. The paper reviews the history of guayule,
its botany, rubber and co-products, genetics and breeding behaviour, agroclimatic
requirements, propagation and research work carried out under coordinated
research programme in India