Clone Selection of Kok-Saghyz (Taraxacum kok-saghyz), A Source of Natural Rubber

Abstract

In the temperate zone, the kok-saghyz dandelion (Taraxacum kok-saghyz Rodin) is considered a promising source of natural rubber (NR). NR cannot be replaced by synthetic rubber in the manufacture of a wide range of rubber products. The purpose of this study was to develop regulations for obtaining the seeds of the early-ripening kok-saghyz for cultivation as an annual crop in the South-East Kazakhstan. The methods of the study include propagation by root cuttings and individual and family selection of the early-ripening kok-saghyz plants that reach a high root mass in the first year of cultivation. The results of the study are the stages of the regulations for obtaining the seeds of the early-ripening kok-saghyz: selection of five large early-ripening forms of kok-saghyz → cloning of selected plants on isolated plots → repeated selection of the best plants → combining elite plants from five families on one plot of an elite plant nursery → cross-pollination of elite plants → seeds of the early-ripening kok-saghyz for plantation growth. Conclusions. Kok-saghyz is recommended for plantation cultivation in the South-East Kazakhstan as an annual crop.