Guayule with increased rubber production and yield

Abstract

Altered guayule that produce more rubber than the amount of rubber produced by non-altered guayule are provided. The alterations may include (i) a reduction in amount of functional PaAos produced by the altered guayule, (ii) an increase in amount of a transcription factor produced by the altered guayule, (iii) an increase in amount of salicylic acid within the altered guayule, (iv) exposure of the altered guayule to cold temperature, and (v) a combination thereof. Methods of producing the altered guayule and methods of increasing the amount of rubber produced by a guayule are also provided.

We, the inventors, claim as follows: 
     
         1 . An altered guayule, parts and progeny thereof, that produces more rubber than an amount of rubber produced by a non-altered guayule comprising an alteration that causes said altered guayule to produce an increased amount of rubber, said alteration being an increase in amount of salicylic acid within said altered guayule;
 wherein said alteration causes said altered guayule to produce more rubber than said amount of rubber produced by said non-altered guayule.   
     
     
         2 . The altered guayule of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said increase in said amount of salicylic acid within said altered guayule comprises administering salicylic acid to a guayule to generate said altered guayule; and   wherein said salicylic acid causes said altered guayule to produce more rubber than said amount of rubber produced by said non-altered guayule.   
     
     
         3 . A germplasm of said altered guayule of  claim 1 , wherein said germplasm comprises said alteration. 
     
     
         4 . A seed of said altered guayule of  claim 1 , wherein said seed comprises said alteration. 
     
     
         5 . A method for increasing an amount of rubber produced by an altered guayule compared to an amount of rubber produced by a non-altered guayule, said method comprising an alteration, the alteration being increasing the amount of salicylic acid within said altered guayule,
 wherein said alteration causes said altered guayule to produce more rubber than said amount of rubber produced by said non-altered guayule.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 ,
 wherein said increasing said amount of salicylic acid within said altered guayule comprises administering salicylic acid to said guayule to generate said altered guayule; and   wherein said salicylic acid causes said altered guayule to produce more rubber than said amount of rubber produced by said non-altered guayule.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising exposing said altered guayule to between approximately 7° C. and approximately 15° C. for approximately 8 hours per day. 
     
     
         9 . An altered guayule produced by the method of  claim 5 , wherein said altered guayule comprises said alteration and produces more rubber than the amount of rubber produced by a non-altered guayule. 
     
     
         10 . An altered seed of an altered guayule produced by the method of  claim 5 , wherein said altered seed comprises said alteration.