Hevea brasiliensis:The Rubber Tree

Hevea brasiliensis: In the era of rubber tree exploitation, many people were dispatched to find unknown plant species that could be used as raw materials, treatments, ornaments. None of the amazing accomplishments of the plant discovery era is more powerful than rubberizing. In the tropical plant species including early explorers including Columbus, New World residents provided rubber. Because it is an unstable product, it was curiosity for more than three centuries.

Latex is a viscose protective secretion that protects plants from herbivores. Many trees produce it when they are hurt, but the main source of latex used to make natural rubber is the parabornic tree (Hevea brasiliensis). Natural rubber was originally used for manufacturing resilient balls and waterproof sheets, but now it is mainly used for tires with low durability of synthetic materials. The latex which oozes out from the Balata tree (Manilkara bidentata) is used to make golf balls similar to rubber made from latex of paraquium of "getah perca" tree. It is also used as an insulator especially for submarine cables, dentistry, canes and buttocks. At present it is basically replaced by synthetic material

Natural rubber is used for various purposes, from tires to rain boots, gloves, erasers. According to Scientific American, 70% of this rubber is used for the manufacture of tires, the demand only increases. Rubber is collected from Hevea brasiliensis tree by tapping process. Although this process is generally considered to have less environmental impact, damage to trees is common, and when rubber demand is high, trees are sacrificed occasionally to produce rubber faster I will. Moreover, due to the scarcity and importance of this natural resource, the rubber industry is rapidly growing. A single leaf blight can eliminate the entire Brazilian industry from which the origin of rubber tree originates. The forefront of natural rubber production has shifted to Southeast Asia, where similar demand for dead and deforestation is further threatening the industry. This is a great opportunity to apply synthetic biology to large and important markets.