Taraxacum kok-saghyz
Encyclopedia
Taraxacum kok-saghyz, often abbreviated as TKS and commonly referred to as the Russian Dandelion or Rubber Root, is a species of dandelion native to Uzbekistan
and Kazakhstan
that is notable for its production of high quality rubber
. T. kok-saghyz was discovered in Kazakhstan in 1932 by the Soviet Union
in an effort to find a domestic source of rubber
.
genus. Each flower head may be approximately one inch in diameter and be made up for 50 to 90 florets. Plants may contain 25 to 50 leaves arranged in one or more rosettes at the upper end of the root. Taraxacum kok-saghyz can be differentiated from the Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) by its generally smaller grayish green leaves and hornlike structures on the bracts surrounding the bud. Flowers are hermaphrodite, entomophilous and are on stalks that reach about a foot in height. T. kok-saghyz is usually in flower from May through June, with seeds ripening from June through July.
between 5.5 and 8.5. The species performs best in full sun or nearly full sun.
, the UK, Germany
, Sweden
and Spain
during World War II
as an emergency source of rubber when supplies of rubber from Hevea brasiliensis in Southeast Asia were threatened. During this time period, the highest yields achieved by the U.S. were 110 kg of rubber per hectare, while the USSR achieved yields of 200 kg of rubber per hectare. With the conclusion of World War II and the return of affordable Hevea brasiliensis rubber
, the majority of T. kok-saghyz programs were discontinued.
There has been a resurgence of attention on T. kok-saghyz due to shortcomings of the Hevea brasiliensis rubber
supply. One threat to Hevea brasiliensis rubber production, is the South American Leaf Blight (SALB), which has mired conventional rubber production in South America
since 1934. Additionally, this blight may spread to the Hevea brasiliensis trees in Southeast Asia
, which are genetically very similar to each other and those of South America. Furthermore, land used for rubber production is being converted to palm oil
plantations in order to produce biofuel
and labor costs also hinder the profitability of Hevea brasiliensis plantations, as each tree must be manually tapped in order to harvest its latex
. Lastly, rising oil prices limit the economic viability of synthetic rubbers and may increase demand for natural rubber, that often cannot be pragmatically replaced by a synthetic equivalent.
Taraxacum kok-saghyz cultivars that are easier to cultivate and produce more and better rubber are being developed as part of a large research project at many institutions.
produced by T. kok-saghyz is a sugar
that could be used in non-food applications or be turned into bioethanol through fermentation. The remaining plant biomass could be used to produce biogas
.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
and Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
that is notable for its production of high quality rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
. T. kok-saghyz was discovered in Kazakhstan in 1932 by the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in an effort to find a domestic source of rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
.
Etymology
Kok-saghyz is derived from the Turkish kok-sagiz, with kok meaning root and sagiz meaning rubber or gum.Description
Taraxacum kok-saghyz is a perennial plant with a yellow composite flower characteristic of the TaraxacumTaraxacum
Taraxacum is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. They are native to Eurasia and North America, and two species, T. officinale and T. erythrospermum, are found as weeds worldwide. Both species are edible in their entirety...
genus. Each flower head may be approximately one inch in diameter and be made up for 50 to 90 florets. Plants may contain 25 to 50 leaves arranged in one or more rosettes at the upper end of the root. Taraxacum kok-saghyz can be differentiated from the Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) by its generally smaller grayish green leaves and hornlike structures on the bracts surrounding the bud. Flowers are hermaphrodite, entomophilous and are on stalks that reach about a foot in height. T. kok-saghyz is usually in flower from May through June, with seeds ripening from June through July.
Growing conditions
T. kok-saghyz does best in loose well drained soils with high moisture retention and a pHPH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
between 5.5 and 8.5. The species performs best in full sun or nearly full sun.
Rubber
Taraxacum kok-saghyz was cultivated on a large scale in the Soviet Union between 1931 and 1950, as well as in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the UK, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as an emergency source of rubber when supplies of rubber from Hevea brasiliensis in Southeast Asia were threatened. During this time period, the highest yields achieved by the U.S. were 110 kg of rubber per hectare, while the USSR achieved yields of 200 kg of rubber per hectare. With the conclusion of World War II and the return of affordable Hevea brasiliensis rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
, the majority of T. kok-saghyz programs were discontinued.
There has been a resurgence of attention on T. kok-saghyz due to shortcomings of the Hevea brasiliensis rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
supply. One threat to Hevea brasiliensis rubber production, is the South American Leaf Blight (SALB), which has mired conventional rubber production in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
since 1934. Additionally, this blight may spread to the Hevea brasiliensis trees in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, which are genetically very similar to each other and those of South America. Furthermore, land used for rubber production is being converted to palm oil
Palm oil
Palm oil, coconut oil and palm kernel oil are edible plant oils derived from the fruits of palm trees. Palm oil is extracted from the pulp of the fruit of the oil palm Elaeis guineensis; palm kernel oil is derived from the kernel of the oil palm and coconut oil is derived from the kernel of the...
plantations in order to produce biofuel
Biofuel
Biofuel is a type of fuel whose energy is derived from biological carbon fixation. Biofuels include fuels derived from biomass conversion, as well as solid biomass, liquid fuels and various biogases...
and labor costs also hinder the profitability of Hevea brasiliensis plantations, as each tree must be manually tapped in order to harvest its latex
Latex
Latex is the stable dispersion of polymer microparticles in an aqueous medium. Latexes may be natural or synthetic.Latex as found in nature is a milky fluid found in 10% of all flowering plants . It is a complex emulsion consisting of proteins, alkaloids, starches, sugars, oils, tannins, resins,...
. Lastly, rising oil prices limit the economic viability of synthetic rubbers and may increase demand for natural rubber, that often cannot be pragmatically replaced by a synthetic equivalent.
Taraxacum kok-saghyz cultivars that are easier to cultivate and produce more and better rubber are being developed as part of a large research project at many institutions.
Dandelion by-products
InulinInulin
Inulins are a group of naturally occurring polysaccharides produced by many types of plants. They belong to a class of fibers known as fructans. Inulin is used by some plants as a means of storing energy and is typically found in roots or rhizomes...
produced by T. kok-saghyz is a sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
that could be used in non-food applications or be turned into bioethanol through fermentation. The remaining plant biomass could be used to produce biogas
Biogas
Biogas typically refers to a gas produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Organic waste such as dead plant and animal material, animal dung, and kitchen waste can be converted into a gaseous fuel called biogas...
.