Variability of Rubber and Plant Growth Characteristics Among Single-plant Selections from a Diverse Guayule Breeding Population

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Abstract
Single plant selections from a diverse guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray) breeding population were evaluated for rubber and resin concentration, rubber and resin yield, and 12 growth characteristics. Thirty-seven superior selections (≈9% of the total of 421 single plant selections) exhibit combinations of satisfactory biomass production, high rubber yield, and strong regeneration and survival after harvesting by clipping the branches at a height of 0.10 m. Rubber concentration (%) was not highly correlated with the 12 plant characteristics measured. In contrast, rubber yield (g/plant) was highly correlated with plant dry weight and other plant characters related to biomass production. Twelve of the 37 superior selections had yields >125 g of rubber per plant, and the rubber concentration of seven of these 12 plants exceeded the mean (7.1%) of the 37 superior selections. Selection for high rubber concentration and yield with strong top regrowth after clipping appears to be feasible, and should expedite the development of a multiple harvesting system and rapid commercialization of guayule as a new domestic source of natural rubber.

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