Hevea: ethylene and jasmonate play a major role in rubber production
The natural rubber produced by Hevea is collected by tapping the bark. This causes stress within the tree, which can lead the latex flow to dry up. What are the physiological mechanisms behind this response to stress and how are they triggered? Researchers from CIRAD and their partners recently looked at two plant hormones, ethylene and jasmonate, which play a vital role in regulating latex production.
Natural rubber is synthesized in the latex cells of the Hevea tree, which make up a specialist tissue, the laticifers, in the phloem.
It is collected by making a cut in the bark, enabling the latex to flow out. This is called tapping. Tapping causes stress within the tree, which when combined with environmental stresses can lead the latex flow to dry up, a phenomenon known as tapping panel dryness.
Researchers from CIRAD and their partners have looked into the physiological mechanisms behind this response to stress, particularly two plant hormones, ethylene and jasmonate, which play a vital role in regulating latex production.
Published: 18/11/2015