English Abstract

Production of Natural Rubber and Biotechnology

Norie WATANABE
Central Research Division Bridgestone Corporation, Kodaira-shi, Tokyo, Japan
Nippon Gomu Kyokaishi,(2018),91(5),151-155 General Review in Japanese

Natural rubber (NR) derived from latex produced by Hevea brasiliensis (para rubber tree) is an important raw material consumed annually of 12.6 million tons, about of which 70% is used in the tire industry. NR has specific excellent characteristics and is also a material attracting attention as natural resource derived from plants. Since the demand for tires will increase with the development of motorization in emerging countries, stable supply of natural rubber is an important issue for the tire industry. In order to achieve both tropical environmental conservation and increased production, it is necessary to increase productivity per unit area in cultivated areas. Development of varieties that are excellent in productivity has so far been dependent on selective breeding technology by crossing requiring a long time, but recently, research based on a new approach applying biotechnology is advancing.

Keywords: Natural Rubber, Hevea Brasiliensis, Biotechnology, Biosynthesis, Genome, DNA Marker, SALB, White Root Disease