Guayule - The potential safe alternative to traditional rubber tree and its future prospects

Though there are more than 4000 latex producing plants, Guayule, a shrub that grows in semi-arid conditions has drawn the attention of researchers as a potential safe alternative to traditional rubber tree. This is expected to mitigate the risk on heavy dependency on Hevea Brasiliensis, which is the only commercially cultivated rubber producing tree till date and is comparable to putting all the eggs in the same basket. Moreover, the crop has its own advantageous features like low allergic nature; low maintenance required and is grown in regions with less water. This article lets you know �Whether the crop will help to diversify the risk? When will the full-fledged commercialization start?� Guayule (Parthenium argentatum) is a wild shrub which grows throughout the Chihuahuan�desert�in south west Arizona and north Mexico. It has been used for centuries by�Indian tribes in these regions. It is the only other source of natural latex production commercially except the Brazilian rubber tree (Hevea Brasiliensis). Apart from rubber, it also produces bio-products which is in line with the concept of sustainability and green chemistry.   Author: Sheeba G R