Natural, non-toxic, ecological and made in Italy rubbers? Yes, it is possible! An ENEA study, published in the international journal BMC Genomics, opens up new perspectives for the production of natural rubber in Europe as well, as an alternative to the well-known rubber.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
Natural, non-toxic, ecological and made in Italy rubbers? Yes, it is possible! An ENEA study, published in the international journal BMC Genomics, opens up new perspectives for the production of natural rubber in Europe as well, as an alternative to the well-known rubber.
Rubber is a natural rubber that derives from the processing of the latex of a tree native to the Amazon rainforest, the Hevea brasiliensis. But now the researchers of the Genomics group of the ENEA Research Center in Trisaia have identified interesting potentials in the Russian dandelion (Taraxacum kok-saghyz) as an alternative to the rubber tree, not cultivable in our latitudes and highly at risk due to phytopathological problems. .
"Due to its physiological characteristics and the very high quality of the rubber produced at the root system level, the Russian dandelion is one of the most valid and promising plant species for the production of rubber. Our study made it possible to highlight numerous genes involved, directly and indirectly, in the production and accumulation of rubber in the roots of this plant ”, explains ENEA researcher Paolo Facella, one of the authors of the study.
"Furthermore, the comparison between high and low rubber production Russian dandelion specimens showed that the synthesized quantity is significantly influenced by the synthesis of other metabolites in the root (such as some terpenes and phenylpropanoids), which appear to be in competition with it. ; by genetically intervening on the production of these metabolites, it will therefore be possible to improve the yield in natural rubber”, Facella adds.
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You use rubber
Rubber is currently used to make surgical gloves, catheters, plasters, anesthesia masks, tourniquets, some components of syringes, elastics for dental appliances, orthodontic rubber prostheses. Many common objects contain latex: diving masks, flippers, rubber toys, some teats, balls, balloons and inflating balloons, erasers.
The Russian dandelion could be useful for the zero-kilometer realization of all these objects. And with an increased production capacity of rubber on a large scale, to be used for example in the production of tires. As it happened before the era of synthetic rubber.
Natural rubber Made in Italy
“Some giants in the sector are also moving in this direction, such as Continental, which has announced an innovative project to start production in Germany of Russian dandelions with roots the size of a beet from 2020. On a scientific level, the Fraunhofer Institute is involved, while the experimental crops on test fields will be entrusted to Bavarian and Saxon farmers ”, concludes Enea.
The study of this dandelion opens the way to the enhancement of crops in our territory. Particularly in Basilicata, where the ENEA research center in Trisaia plays a role of connection between companies and the world of research, it is an area particularly rich in agricultural biodiversity and represents an extraordinary source of plant species of considerable interest for the production of compounds. with high added value.
Will the tires be made with dandelion?
Apparently yes, and that's nothing new. Back in 2003, the Dutch company KeyGene, in collaboration with Kultevat, had devised a system to transform the dandelion plant into rubber, to be used to produce tires.
Ford has also been paying attention to Russian dandelions for many years:
"Because synthetic rubber is not sustainable, and dandelion is potentially a great natural alternative for our products."
Roberta Ragni
