Location: Bioproducts Research
2015 Annual Report
Accomplishments
1. Genetic modification of guayule for higher rubber yield. Increasing yield of natural rubber in guayule plants is the main goal of genetic improvement studies for ARS scientists in Albany, California. A single gene modification that can increase rubber content by up to four fold was discovered in laboratory and greenhouse studies. Gene expression was well correlated to the level of rubber measured. Moreover, modified plants are larger and greener than controls, suggesting carbon fixation plays a role in how these improved plants work.
2. Tetraacylglycerols in lesquerella oil. Structural differentiation of the molecular species of chemical components of lesquerella oil has been performed by ARS scientists in Albany, California. These oils have physical properties different from those of traditionally used oils, but can be used in industry similar to those, e. g., as viscosity and pour point improvers for lubricants. The newly-identified molecular species contained one or two normal fatty acids with the remainder being lequerolic acid, a hydroxyl-functional fatty acid valued for its ability to be used as a starting point for production of biobased plastics, etc.
