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Katrina Cornish - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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future trends for the analysis of guayulins in guayule Parthenium argentatum gray resins
Industrial Crops and Products, 2021Co-Authors: Juana Rozalen, Katrina Cornish, Manuel Carmona, Horacio Lopezcorcoles, Amaya Zalacain, Mercedes M Garcia, Jorge MendozaAbstract:Abstract Guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray) is a promising alternative and renewable source of natural rubber/latex. There is a general acceptance that to successfully industrialize the cultivation of guayule, it will be necessary to valorize all of its co-products, including resins, which can reach 16 % of weight of dry matter. Guayule resins have been reported to have antifungal, insect antifeedant and wood protector activities, although it remains to be clearly established which compounds are responsible for such actions. Here, we focus on a terpene family present in guayule resin that is a candidate for these activities, the sesquiterpenes, which are present in significant amounts (10–15 %). We studies the versatility of the most common analytical method used in their analysis, HPLC-UV, with mass spectrometry techniques including LC–MS, ESI-TOF and MALDI-TOF to address the following objectives: 1) to explore whether there are other members of the guayulins family, 2) to determine the applicability of new methods based on mass spectrometry, and 3) to establish the relationship between the four known major guayulins in the seasonal changes described by other authors. Our results have allowed us to: tentatively identify a new member of this family and to suggest the existence of others; propose changes to the chromatographic approaches currently used; extend the use of mass spectrometry (direct identification and monitoring of purification of guayulins); and finally, demonstrate that the content of guayulins A and B decreases at the start of winter when the most active period of natural rubber biosynthesis begins.
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adapting the accelerated solvent extraction method for resin and rubber determination in guayule using the buchi speed extractor
Molecules, 2021Co-Authors: Juana Rozalen, Katrina Cornish, Maria De Las Mercedes Garciamartinez, Maria Engracia Carrion, Manuel Carmona, Horacio Lopezcorcoles, Amaya ZalacainAbstract:Guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray) is a promising alternative source to Hevea brasiliensis for the production of natural rubber, which can reach levels of 8–9% under industrialized farming conditions. The most common method for determining rubber concentration is by accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), a technique developed by the Dionex Corporation and almost exclusively performed with the Dionex ASE-200 or 350 systems. Herein, it is sought to apply and adapt the most common methods used in the literature for the Dionex system to another extraction platform, the BUCHI Speed Extractor E-914. Results showed that using a sand sandwich method to confine the sample in the center and exploiting a larger cell volume (80 mL) for extraction prevents the occurrence of overpressure and problems with clogging. Under optimized conditions, the coefficient of variation was <15% for both resin quantification for samples containing 5.0–15.8% of resin and for rubber quantification for samples with 1.7–10.3% rubber content. The extraction time for resin (2 cycles of 5 min each) was smaller than for rubber (2 cycles of 20 min each). It would be interesting to carry out interlaboratory comparisons to standardize the method at an international level.
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potential applications of guayulins to improve feasibility of guayule cultivation
Agronomy, 2019Co-Authors: Francisco M Jara, Katrina Cornish, Manuel CarmonaAbstract:Guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray) is an interesting alternative and renewable source of rubber/latex which has been used in the past. Guayule rubber and latex products are not available in the market largely because the raw material cost is higher than the current sources produced in South-East Asia and other tropical countries (Hevea brasiliensis). Guayule contains many other compounds whose joint exploitation could make guayule cultivation profitable, especially in semi-desert areas where cultivation of other crops is difficult or impossible. Guayulins A–D, sesquiterpene esters, appear to have some commercial promise. Despite being accumulated in relatively high concentrations (its majority representative, guayulin A, can account for up to 13.7% of the resin content of this plant, which itself ranges from 6%–12%), guayulins have received little direct attention from scientists. This review presents the current knowledge about the activity of these compounds and, based on known activities of similar compounds from other species, potential uses as fungicides, miticides and insecticides are suggested.
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eggshell improves dynamic properties of durable guayule rubber composites co reinforced with silanized silica
Industrial Crops and Products, 2019Co-Authors: Xianjie Ren, Katrina CornishAbstract:Abstract Bio-renewable, inexpensive, reinforcing fillers for rubber composites are being developed to replace nonrenewable versions, in order to reduce carbon footprint of production. In this study, bifunctionally silanized silica (BSS), a commercial synthetic filler, was partially or completely replaced by micro-sized eggshell (ES), at three different loadings, in guayule (Parthenium argentatum, Gray) natural rubber (GNR) composites, and the dynamic mechanical properties, and durability (resistance to aging, fatigue and ozone) were characterized. Replacement of BSS with ES decreased the dynamic property of estimated rolling resistance, more than BSS by itself and, unusually, concomitantly increased the estimated wet grip of GNR composites. The composites filled with ES and BSS had comparable resistance to aging and fatigue. However, ozone resistance was greatest in composites made with a mixture of the two fillers. Durable GNR composites made with ES and BSS with improved dynamic mechanical properties, may support further expansion of the GNR industry.
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rapid and complete removal of guayule Parthenium argentatum leaves by cryodefoliation and freeze and thaw induction of rubber particle coagulation
Industrial Crops and Products, 2018Co-Authors: Griffin M Bates, Katrina CornishAbstract:Abstract Production of natural rubber (NR), a vital natural resource for modern economies, currently is completely dependent upon tropical cultivation of the Para rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis, Mull. Arg). One promising source of alternative rubber is guayule (Parthenium argentatum, Gray), which is currently being developed as an alternative source of NR. Guayule rubber accumulates as rubber particles in bark parenchyma and can be extracted in the form of latex by homogenizing the bark and then separating the latex from the non-latex components by centrifugation. Latex separation and purification processes are significantly hindered by fine solids from the co-homogenized leaves. Therefore, complete removal of leaves before homogenization is highly desired. However, guayule leaves do not naturally abscise and chemical defoliants cannot be utilized since these dehydrate the shrub and coagulate the latex, and physical leaf removal processes are tedious or inefficient. We demonstrate that liquid nitrogen can be used to embrittle the leaves without freezing the bark parenchyma, completely removing the leaves with a single physical blow, and then the defoliated branches can be homogenized with no loss of latex-containing bark and no leaf contamination. Under longer freezing times, rubber coagulation occurred in partially frozen tissue and during slow thawing. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the rubber coagulation, which occurs when guayule branches are frozen through and thawed before homogenization, can be avoided by rapid homogenization of the flash frozen branches in ambient temperature aqueous extraction buffer.
Colleen M Mcmahan - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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guayule is an industrial crop that can be grown for its natural rubber production and phytoremediation capability in the western san joaquin valley california
Current Plant Biology, 2021Co-Authors: Dante F Placido, Colleen M Mcmahan, Claire Heinitz, Gary S BanuelosAbstract:Abstract This study evaluated the growth characteristics of six guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray) accessions irrigated with waters high in boron, selenium, and calcium, and sodium salts under greenhouse conditions. The synthetic irrigation waters used in this investigation mimic the water quality used frequently for irrigation in the westside of the San Joaquin Valley, California, U.S.A. Guayule is a natural rubber-producing industrial crop that is tolerant of marginal soils and drought, and it may be grown as an alternative crop with poor quality waters for this region. Among the six accessions investigated for 55 days, three of them showed increased natural rubber concentration when grown under saline irrigation conditions compared to a non-saline irrigation (control). Elemental analysis in the leaves revealed that guayule can also absorb and accumulate potentially toxic elements. Results from this study suggest that specific accessions of guayule can be grown under saline irrigation conditions. Guayule exhibited potential bioremediation benefits under agronomic conditions found in the westside of the San Joaquin Valley, CA.
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rnaseq analysis of drought stressed guayule reveals the role of gene transcription for modulating rubber resin and carbohydrate synthesis
Scientific Reports, 2021Co-Authors: Chen Dong, Daniel C Ilut, Grisel Ponciano, Naxin Huo, Colleen M McmahanAbstract:The drought-adapted shrub guayule (Parthenium argentatum) produces rubber, a natural product of major commercial importance, and two co-products with potential industrial use: terpene resin and the carbohydrate fructan. The rubber content of guayule plants subjected to water stress is higher compared to that of well-irrigated plants, a fact consistently reported in guayule field evaluations. To better understand how drought influences rubber biosynthesis at the molecular level, a comprehensive transcriptome database was built from drought-stressed guayule stem tissues using de novo RNA-seq and genome-guided assembly, followed by annotation and expression analysis. Despite having higher rubber content, most rubber biosynthesis related genes were down-regulated in drought-stressed guayule, compared to well-irrigated plants, suggesting post-transcriptional effects may regulate drought-induced rubber accumulation. On the other hand, terpene resin biosynthesis genes were unevenly affected by water stress, implying unique environmental influences over transcriptional control of different terpene compounds or classes. Finally, drought induced expression of fructan catabolism genes in guayule and significantly suppressed these fructan biosynthesis genes. It appears then, that in guayule cultivation, irrigation levels might be calibrated in such a regime to enable tunable accumulation of rubber, resin and fructan.
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techno economic analysis of guayule Parthenium argentatum pyrolysis biorefining production of biofuels from guayule bagasse via tail gas reactive pyrolysis
Industrial Crops and Products, 2018Co-Authors: Mark A. Schaffer, Yaseen Elkasabi, Charles A. Mullen, Akwasi A. Boateng, Colleen M Mcmahan, Priscila S Sabaini, Nelson MackenAbstract:Abstract The tire industry is currently considering natural rubber from guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray) as a viable alternative to imported Hevea natural rubber, or petroleum-based synthetics, to meet expanding materials needs of the industry. However, only 5–10% of the harvested guayule plant is converted into rubber latex. For economic sustainability, the industry must identify viable uses for the balance residual, termed bagasse. Bioenergy production has been considered, but conversion facilities must be co-located to avoid additional costs in transportation of the bagasse. This study investigated the economics of processing a minimum of 200 metric ton per day (MTPD) of guayule bagasse to produce biofuels in a biorefinery co-located with a guayule latex processing facility. A unique aspect of the simulated process was the use of the tail gas reactive pyrolysis (TGRP) technology that formulates an intermediate bio-oil with less oxygenates and therefore requires only mild upgrading to fuel products. This achieved a yield of 16.2%, distributed in the gasoline (9.7%), jet fuel (5.6%), and diesel (0.9%) carbon ranges. The capital cost was estimated at $58.74 million (MM), and the annual operating cost was estimated at $14.19 MM. A discounted cash flow rate of return (DCFROR) analysis was conducted to evaluate the economic feasibility based on a 30-year plant life and 10% internal rate of return. The minimum fuel selling price (MFSP) calculated was 1.88 $/L for gasoline, 1.84 $/L for jet fuel and 1.91 $/L for diesel fuel, clearly showing the limitations imposed by economies of scale of the current guayule bagasse availability. However, there is a potential to reduce the MFSP by increasing the facility capacity and utilizing the valuable co-products that accompany guayule pyrolysis biorefining. Sensitivity analysis indicates the MFSP of gasoline can be lowered to 0.96 $/L considering the most optimistic scenario, comprising an integrated large facility of 2000 MTPD, lower cost of hydrogen, and the sale of a premium-quality residual guayule biorefinery coke.
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fructan reduction by downregulation of 1 sst in guayule
Industrial Crops and Products, 2017Co-Authors: Niu Dong, T A Coffelt, Maureen C Whalen, Chen Dong, Grisel Ponciano, Dante F Placido, Kevin M Holtman, Colleen M McmahanAbstract:The natural rubber producing plant guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray) stores carbohydrates mainly in the form of fructans, synthesized and stored in the same tissues at the same time as the rubber polymer, and a potential source of carbon for rubber biosynthesis. The first committed step to fructan synthesis is catalyzed by sucrose:sucrose-1-fructosyltransferase (1-SST), which was downregulated to test whether reduction of carbohydrate synthesis would divert carbon instead to rubber biosynthesis. Guayule leaf strips were transformed by Agrobacterium-mediated technology, and plants with downregulated 1-SST were evaluated in the laboratory and greenhouse. The plant tissue fructan concentration was reduced significantly, and sucrose concentration increased, especially in root tissues of greenhouse-grown plants. However, increased natural rubber production did not result.
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effect of protein addition on properties of guayule natural rubber
Rubber Chemistry and Technology, 2017Co-Authors: Dhondup Lhamo, Colleen M McmahanAbstract:ABSTRACT Parthenium argentatum, commonly known as guayule, is a desert shrub cultivated as a domestic source of natural rubber in the semi-arid southwestern United States. Guayule natural rubber (GR) may be used to replace petroleum-based rubber or in place of Hevea natural rubber (NR), but substitution must take into consideration differences in physical and chemical properties. Currently, Hevea NR is required in tire applications, especially aircraft and truck tires, because of its high oxidative resistance, rapid cure rate, and exceptional stress–strain response. These outstanding features are attributed to the presence of nonrubber constituents, mainly proteins and lipids, which cause the rubber to gel, and they contribute to strain-induced crystallization. In contrast, GR is low in proteins and is thus deprived of some attributes of Hevea. Addition of amino acids and proteins to guayule could potentially improve performance and thereby widen the range of applications for use. In a previous study, ami...
Maureen C Whalen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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fructan reduction by downregulation of 1 sst in guayule
Industrial Crops and Products, 2017Co-Authors: Niu Dong, T A Coffelt, Maureen C Whalen, Chen Dong, Grisel Ponciano, Dante F Placido, Kevin M Holtman, Colleen M McmahanAbstract:The natural rubber producing plant guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray) stores carbohydrates mainly in the form of fructans, synthesized and stored in the same tissues at the same time as the rubber polymer, and a potential source of carbon for rubber biosynthesis. The first committed step to fructan synthesis is catalyzed by sucrose:sucrose-1-fructosyltransferase (1-SST), which was downregulated to test whether reduction of carbohydrate synthesis would divert carbon instead to rubber biosynthesis. Guayule leaf strips were transformed by Agrobacterium-mediated technology, and plants with downregulated 1-SST were evaluated in the laboratory and greenhouse. The plant tissue fructan concentration was reduced significantly, and sucrose concentration increased, especially in root tissues of greenhouse-grown plants. However, increased natural rubber production did not result.
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overexpression of 3 hydroxy 3 methylglutaryl coenzyme a reductase in Parthenium argentatum guayule
Industrial Crops and Products, 2013Co-Authors: Niu Dong, T A Coffelt, Katrina Cornish, Colleen M Mcmahan, Maureen C Whalen, Grisel Ponciano, L Johnson, Robert A CreelmanAbstract:Abstract Natural rubber biosynthesized via the isoprenoid pathway by domestic plant sources, such as guayule (Parthenium argentatum) may be more economically sustainable with improved yields, through breeding or targeted metabolic engineering of the isoprenoid pathway. The enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) is considered a key regulatory enzyme of isoprenoid carbon flux in mammals, in microbial systems, and possibly in plants. The objective of our study was to modify isoprenoid production in guayule through overexpression of the HMGR gene. A transformation plasmid pND4-HMGR(tAN) was constructed with a modified binary vector and the HMGR gene from Aspergillus nidulans containing only the 465 amino acid catalytic domain driven by a constitutive promoter. Five independent transgenic lines were obtained via leaf disc Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. In the laboratory, the NR content of 2-month-old in vitro plantlets showed a 65% increase in rubber over the vector control for one line (HMGR6), and lower resin production for another (HMGR2). In field evaluations, the genetically modified HMGR6 line was differentiated from control lines in size, biomass, and plant morphology descriptors, but not in rubber or resin content. Remarkably, the survival rate of all HMGR-modified plants following pollarding harvest, was better than controls, with the highest survival rate for line HMGR6. In summary, we report the first genetic modification of guayule to overexpress the isoprenoid pathway enzyme HMGR. Survival during regrowth was significantly improved for HMGR overexpressing plants, suggesting enhanced carbon flux to important secondary isoprenoid metabolites, such as growth phytohormones.
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transcriptome and gene expression analysis in cold acclimated guayule Parthenium argentatum rubber producing tissue
Phytochemistry, 2012Co-Authors: Grisel Ponciano, T A Coffelt, Colleen M Mcmahan, Wenshuang Xie, Gerard R Lazo, Jillian Collinssilva, Aise Nuraltaban, Martin Gollery, David K Shintani, Maureen C WhalenAbstract:Natural rubber biosynthesis in guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray) is associated with moderately cold night temperatures. To begin to dissect the molecular events triggered by cold temperatures that govern rubber synthesis induction in guayule, the transcriptome of bark tissue, where rubber is produced, was investigated. A total of 11,748 quality expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were obtained. The vast majority of ESTs encoded proteins that are similar to stress-related proteins, whereas those encoding rubber biosynthesis-related proteins comprised just over one percent of the ESTs. Sequence information derived from the ESTs was used to design primers for quantitative analysis of the expression of genes that encode selected enzymes and proteins with potential impact on rubber biosynthesis in field-grown guayule plants, including 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase, farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase, squalene synthase, small rubber particle protein, allene oxide synthase, and cis-prenyl transferase. Gene expression was studied for field-grown plants during the normal course of seasonal variation in temperature (monthly average maximum 41.7 °C to minimum 0 °C, from November 2005 through March 2007) and rubber transferase enzymatic activity was also evaluated. Levels of gene expression did not correlate with air temperatures nor with rubber transferase activity. Interestingly, a sudden increase in night temperature 10 days before harvest took place in advance of the highest CPT gene expression level.
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guayule Parthenium argentatum pyrolysis and analysis by py gc ms
Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 2010Co-Authors: Akwasi A. Boateng, Charles A. Mullen, Colleen M Mcmahan, Maureen C Whalen, Katrina CornishAbstract:Abstract Economic and sustainable biofuel production requires high process efficiency. The choice of biomass and the conversion technology employed to produce renewable fuels determine the product yields, fuel quality and consequently the process efficiency. Guayule, a perennial shrub native to the southwestern United States, is currently cultivated as a source of natural rubber latex. However, after latex extraction, about 90% of the crop is used for low value biomass markets or simply goes to waste. Residual biomass from guayule presents an opportunity as a solid fuel resource that is already collected, on-site, and is a suitable ligno-cellulosic conversion feedstock. Using Py–GC/MS, we characterized the starting material of whole guayule shrub (G1) and solid waste streams, including ground bagasse from the industrial latex extraction process (G4), ground whole shrub minus resin (G2), and ground whole shrub minus resin and rubber (G3). These waste streams contain varying amounts of resin and rubber compounds. We measured the energy content of these streams and compared their compositions based on Py–GC/MS pyrograms. Catalytic and non-catalytic pyrolysis reactions were performed. It was found that the stem-derived latex-extracted guayule bagasse (G4) is the material with the most thermochemical energy potential. Whole shrub (G1) is the next in energy content. The gross energy content declined as resin is removed (G2) and further declined with the removal of resin and rubber (G3). The pyrograms showed fragmentation of the biomass polysaccharides and lignin polymers to compounds that have chemical energy, which provides support to the gross energy profiles.
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comparative analysis of the complete sequence of the plastid genome of Parthenium argentatum and identification of dna barcodes to differentiate Parthenium species and lines
BMC Plant Biology, 2009Co-Authors: Shashi Kumar, Frederick M Hahn, Colleen M Mcmahan, Maureen C WhalenAbstract:Background Parthenium argentatum (guayule) is an industrial crop that produces latex, which was recently commercialized as a source of latex rubber safe for people with Type I latex allergy. The complete plastid genome of P. argentatum was sequenced. The sequence provides important information useful for genetic engineering strategies. Comparison to the sequences of plastid genomes from three other members of the Asteraceae, Lactuca sativa, Guitozia abyssinica and Helianthus annuus revealed details of the evolution of the four genomes. Chloroplast-specific DNA barcodes were developed for identification of Parthenium species and lines.
T A Coffelt - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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a century of guayule comprehensive genetic characterization of the us national guayule Parthenium argentatum a gray germplasm collection
Industrial Crops and Products, 2017Co-Authors: Daniel C Ilut, T A Coffelt, Paul L Sanchez, John M Dyer, Matthew A Jenks, Michael A GoreAbstract:The fragility of a single-source, geographically concentrated supply of natural rubber, a critical material of the modern economy, has brought guayule (Parthenium argentatum A. Gray) to the forefront as an alternative source of natural rubber. The improvement of guayule for commercial-scale production has been limited by the lack of genomic tools and well-characterized genetic resources required for genomics-assisted breeding. To address this issue, we developed nearly 50,000 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genetic markers and genotyped 69 accessions of guayule and its sister taxa mariola (Parthenium incanum Kunth), representing the entire publically available US national germplasm collection. We identified multiple interspecific hybrid accessions previously considered guayule, including five guayule-mariola hybrids and non-mariola interspecific hybrid accessions AZ-2 and AZ-3, two commonly used high-yielding cultivars. We dissected patterns of genetic diversity within the collection to identify a highly diverse subset of guayule accessions, and showed that wild guayule stands in Big Bend National Park, Texas, USA have the potential to provide hitherto untapped guayule genetic diversity. Together, these results provide the most thorough genetic characterization of guayule germplasm to date and lay the foundation for rapid genetic improvement of commercial guayule germplasm.
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fructan reduction by downregulation of 1 sst in guayule
Industrial Crops and Products, 2017Co-Authors: Niu Dong, T A Coffelt, Maureen C Whalen, Chen Dong, Grisel Ponciano, Dante F Placido, Kevin M Holtman, Colleen M McmahanAbstract:The natural rubber producing plant guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray) stores carbohydrates mainly in the form of fructans, synthesized and stored in the same tissues at the same time as the rubber polymer, and a potential source of carbon for rubber biosynthesis. The first committed step to fructan synthesis is catalyzed by sucrose:sucrose-1-fructosyltransferase (1-SST), which was downregulated to test whether reduction of carbohydrate synthesis would divert carbon instead to rubber biosynthesis. Guayule leaf strips were transformed by Agrobacterium-mediated technology, and plants with downregulated 1-SST were evaluated in the laboratory and greenhouse. The plant tissue fructan concentration was reduced significantly, and sucrose concentration increased, especially in root tissues of greenhouse-grown plants. However, increased natural rubber production did not result.
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a century of guayule comprehensive genetic characterization of the guayule Parthenium argentatum a gray usda germplasm collection
Unknown Journal, 2017Co-Authors: Daniel C Ilut, T A Coffelt, Paul L Sanchez, John M Dyer, Matthew A Jenks, Michael A GoreAbstract:The fragility of a single-source, geographically concentrated supply of natural rubber, a critical material of the modern economy, has brought guayule ( Parthenium argentatum A. Gray) to the forefront as an alternative source of natural rubber. The improvement of guayule for commercial-scale production has been limited by the lack of genomic tools and well-characterized genetic resources required for genomics-assisted breeding. To address this issue, we developed nearly 50,000 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genetic markers and genotyped 69 accessions of guayule and its sister taxa mariola ( Parthenium incanum Kunth), representing the entire available NALPGRU germplasm collection. We identified multiple interspecific hybrid accessions previously considered guayule, including six guayule-mariola hybrids and non-mariola interspecific hybrid accessions AZ-2 and AZ-3, two commonly used high-yielding cultivars. We dissected genetic diversity within the collection to identify a highly diverse subset of guayule accessions, and showed that wild guayule stands in Big Bend National Park, Texas, USA have the potential to provide hitherto untapped guayule genetic diversity. Together, these results provide the most thorough genetic characterization of guayule germplasm to date and lay the foundation for rapid genetic improvement of commercial guayule germplasm.
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overexpression of 3 hydroxy 3 methylglutaryl coenzyme a reductase in Parthenium argentatum guayule
Industrial Crops and Products, 2013Co-Authors: Niu Dong, T A Coffelt, Katrina Cornish, Colleen M Mcmahan, Maureen C Whalen, Grisel Ponciano, L Johnson, Robert A CreelmanAbstract:Abstract Natural rubber biosynthesized via the isoprenoid pathway by domestic plant sources, such as guayule (Parthenium argentatum) may be more economically sustainable with improved yields, through breeding or targeted metabolic engineering of the isoprenoid pathway. The enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) is considered a key regulatory enzyme of isoprenoid carbon flux in mammals, in microbial systems, and possibly in plants. The objective of our study was to modify isoprenoid production in guayule through overexpression of the HMGR gene. A transformation plasmid pND4-HMGR(tAN) was constructed with a modified binary vector and the HMGR gene from Aspergillus nidulans containing only the 465 amino acid catalytic domain driven by a constitutive promoter. Five independent transgenic lines were obtained via leaf disc Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. In the laboratory, the NR content of 2-month-old in vitro plantlets showed a 65% increase in rubber over the vector control for one line (HMGR6), and lower resin production for another (HMGR2). In field evaluations, the genetically modified HMGR6 line was differentiated from control lines in size, biomass, and plant morphology descriptors, but not in rubber or resin content. Remarkably, the survival rate of all HMGR-modified plants following pollarding harvest, was better than controls, with the highest survival rate for line HMGR6. In summary, we report the first genetic modification of guayule to overexpress the isoprenoid pathway enzyme HMGR. Survival during regrowth was significantly improved for HMGR overexpressing plants, suggesting enhanced carbon flux to important secondary isoprenoid metabolites, such as growth phytohormones.
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transcriptome and gene expression analysis in cold acclimated guayule Parthenium argentatum rubber producing tissue
Phytochemistry, 2012Co-Authors: Grisel Ponciano, T A Coffelt, Colleen M Mcmahan, Wenshuang Xie, Gerard R Lazo, Jillian Collinssilva, Aise Nuraltaban, Martin Gollery, David K Shintani, Maureen C WhalenAbstract:Natural rubber biosynthesis in guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray) is associated with moderately cold night temperatures. To begin to dissect the molecular events triggered by cold temperatures that govern rubber synthesis induction in guayule, the transcriptome of bark tissue, where rubber is produced, was investigated. A total of 11,748 quality expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were obtained. The vast majority of ESTs encoded proteins that are similar to stress-related proteins, whereas those encoding rubber biosynthesis-related proteins comprised just over one percent of the ESTs. Sequence information derived from the ESTs was used to design primers for quantitative analysis of the expression of genes that encode selected enzymes and proteins with potential impact on rubber biosynthesis in field-grown guayule plants, including 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase, farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase, squalene synthase, small rubber particle protein, allene oxide synthase, and cis-prenyl transferase. Gene expression was studied for field-grown plants during the normal course of seasonal variation in temperature (monthly average maximum 41.7 °C to minimum 0 °C, from November 2005 through March 2007) and rubber transferase enzymatic activity was also evaluated. Levels of gene expression did not correlate with air temperatures nor with rubber transferase activity. Interestingly, a sudden increase in night temperature 10 days before harvest took place in advance of the highest CPT gene expression level.
Akwasi A. Boateng - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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techno economic analysis of guayule Parthenium argentatum pyrolysis biorefining production of biofuels from guayule bagasse via tail gas reactive pyrolysis
Industrial Crops and Products, 2018Co-Authors: Mark A. Schaffer, Yaseen Elkasabi, Charles A. Mullen, Akwasi A. Boateng, Colleen M Mcmahan, Priscila S Sabaini, Nelson MackenAbstract:Abstract The tire industry is currently considering natural rubber from guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray) as a viable alternative to imported Hevea natural rubber, or petroleum-based synthetics, to meet expanding materials needs of the industry. However, only 5–10% of the harvested guayule plant is converted into rubber latex. For economic sustainability, the industry must identify viable uses for the balance residual, termed bagasse. Bioenergy production has been considered, but conversion facilities must be co-located to avoid additional costs in transportation of the bagasse. This study investigated the economics of processing a minimum of 200 metric ton per day (MTPD) of guayule bagasse to produce biofuels in a biorefinery co-located with a guayule latex processing facility. A unique aspect of the simulated process was the use of the tail gas reactive pyrolysis (TGRP) technology that formulates an intermediate bio-oil with less oxygenates and therefore requires only mild upgrading to fuel products. This achieved a yield of 16.2%, distributed in the gasoline (9.7%), jet fuel (5.6%), and diesel (0.9%) carbon ranges. The capital cost was estimated at $58.74 million (MM), and the annual operating cost was estimated at $14.19 MM. A discounted cash flow rate of return (DCFROR) analysis was conducted to evaluate the economic feasibility based on a 30-year plant life and 10% internal rate of return. The minimum fuel selling price (MFSP) calculated was 1.88 $/L for gasoline, 1.84 $/L for jet fuel and 1.91 $/L for diesel fuel, clearly showing the limitations imposed by economies of scale of the current guayule bagasse availability. However, there is a potential to reduce the MFSP by increasing the facility capacity and utilizing the valuable co-products that accompany guayule pyrolysis biorefining. Sensitivity analysis indicates the MFSP of gasoline can be lowered to 0.96 $/L considering the most optimistic scenario, comprising an integrated large facility of 2000 MTPD, lower cost of hydrogen, and the sale of a premium-quality residual guayule biorefinery coke.
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guayule Parthenium argentatum pyrolysis biorefining fuels and chemicals contributed from guayule leaves via tail gas reactive pyrolysis
Fuel, 2016Co-Authors: Akwasi A. Boateng, Yaseen Elkasabi, Charles A. MullenAbstract:Abstract Guayule ( Parthenium argentatum ), a woody desert shrub cultivated in the southwestern United States, is a source of natural rubber and organic resins that promises to revolutionize the tire and rubber industry. Some 20,000 kg ha −1 yr −1 is reported to be harvested worldwide and expected to grow due to renewed interest in guayule to replace imported Hevea rubber. We have recently reported the use of guayule bagasse, the residual biomass after latex extraction, as feedstock in a pyrolysis process that employs a reactive gas environment to formulate a special intermediate bio-oil product that is easily distillable and readily synthesized to hydrocarbon (drop-in) fuels (Boateng et al., 2015). This submission reports on the use of the same pyrolysis process for the leaves of the guayule plant and the array of fuels and chemicals that the leaves can contribute to a co-located guayule biorefinery at a latex plant that could utilize the entire biomass residue value chain. The composition of the guayule leaves is different from the bagasse, with the main differences being lower resin content along with higher ash (>16 wt%) and higher nitrogen (2.6 wt%, dry ash free, daf) contents resulting from the higher concentration of the plant proteins (16.4 wt% (daf)). Since the former two components have exhibited a drastic influence on pyrolysis product distribution in the past, it was incumbent upon us to explore whether the resin content would provide additional synergistic effects and influence product selectivity pathways to bio-based chemicals. We found that the combined effect of the tail gas reactive pyrolysis process, the proteinaceous nature of the guayule leaf and resin combine to create a complex mechanism that results in an interesting bio-oil intermediate product from which a slew of fuel and commodity chemical compounds can be synthesized upon mild upgrading.
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guayule Parthenium argentatum pyrolysis biorefining production of hydrocarbon compatible bio oils from guayule bagasse via tail gas reactive pyrolysis
Fuel, 2015Co-Authors: Akwasi A. Boateng, Yaseen Elkasabi, Charles A. Mullen, Colleen M McmahanAbstract:Abstract Guayule (Parthenium argentatum) is a woody desert shrub cultivated in the southwestern United States as a source of natural rubber, organic resins, and high energy biofuel feedstock from crop residues. We used guayule bagasse, the residual biomass after latex extraction as feedstock in a pyrolysis process that employs a reactive gas environment to formulate a special intermediate bio-oil product that allows use of conventional hydrotreating with conventional noble metal catalysts and a simple distillation process to synthesize hydrocarbon (drop-in) fuels. The said guayule-bagasse tail gas reactive pyrolysis (TGRP) process comprises pyrolyzing the guayule bagasse in a fluidized-bed reactor in the presence of a reactive and flammable tail gas (comprising CO ∼ 30%, CH4 ∼ 16%, CO2 ∼ 40%, H2 ∼ 10%, C2H4 ∼ traces) generated in the pyrolysis process and without the use of catalyst to produce bio-oil with C/O molar ratio of 14/1 in organic yields of 34–40 wt% having an energy content of 31–37.5 MJ/kg. When we further processed the said bio-oil by centrifugation, we obtained 85 wt% yield and further 50–65 wt% yields following a continuous hydrotreatment over common noble metals (Pt, Ru or Pd) on a carbon support. Distillation of this mixture yielded >95 wt% hydrocarbon liquid fuel mixture comprising 30.4% gasoline (C5–C7), 37% jet (C8–C12) and 24% diesel (C13–C22). Analysis of a composite mixture of the hydrotreated product from the bagasse showed the majority of the sample (66%) was C12 and below, which falls within the gasoline (naphtha) range with the greatest fraction of naphtha falling within the C8–C10 range. Beyond C12, the molecular weights increased through the diesel range (34%), with C37 being the highest observable molecular weight. The product met several ASTM standards for drop-in fuels, but the sulfur content (primarily due to latex extraction additives) was relatively high at around 300 ppm, indicating that hydrodesulfurization may be required to be infrastructure ready.
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guayule Parthenium argentatum pyrolysis and analysis by py gc ms
Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 2010Co-Authors: Akwasi A. Boateng, Charles A. Mullen, Colleen M Mcmahan, Maureen C Whalen, Katrina CornishAbstract:Abstract Economic and sustainable biofuel production requires high process efficiency. The choice of biomass and the conversion technology employed to produce renewable fuels determine the product yields, fuel quality and consequently the process efficiency. Guayule, a perennial shrub native to the southwestern United States, is currently cultivated as a source of natural rubber latex. However, after latex extraction, about 90% of the crop is used for low value biomass markets or simply goes to waste. Residual biomass from guayule presents an opportunity as a solid fuel resource that is already collected, on-site, and is a suitable ligno-cellulosic conversion feedstock. Using Py–GC/MS, we characterized the starting material of whole guayule shrub (G1) and solid waste streams, including ground bagasse from the industrial latex extraction process (G4), ground whole shrub minus resin (G2), and ground whole shrub minus resin and rubber (G3). These waste streams contain varying amounts of resin and rubber compounds. We measured the energy content of these streams and compared their compositions based on Py–GC/MS pyrograms. Catalytic and non-catalytic pyrolysis reactions were performed. It was found that the stem-derived latex-extracted guayule bagasse (G4) is the material with the most thermochemical energy potential. Whole shrub (G1) is the next in energy content. The gross energy content declined as resin is removed (G2) and further declined with the removal of resin and rubber (G3). The pyrograms showed fragmentation of the biomass polysaccharides and lignin polymers to compounds that have chemical energy, which provides support to the gross energy profiles.
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energy dense liquid fuel intermediates by pyrolysis of guayule Parthenium argentatum shrub and bagasse
Fuel, 2009Co-Authors: Akwasi A. Boateng, Charles A. Mullen, Colleen M Mcmahan, Maureen C Whalen, Neil M Goldberg, Kevin B Hicks, Katrina CornishAbstract:Abstract Guayule is a perennial shrub grown in the southwestern United States that is used to produce high quality, natural rubber latex. However, only about 10% of the plant material is used for latex production; the remaining biomass, called bagasse, can be used for renewable fuel production. Fast pyrolysis of guayule, both whole shrub and bagasse was performed. From both feedstocks a very viscous, high energy content (∼30 MJ/kg) pyrolysis liquid (bio-oil) was produced in yields averaging over 60% without any catalyst. The properties and compositions of the bio-oils were found to be similar in the two feedstocks. Co-products, charcoal (20–30 wt%) and non-condensable gas (5–15%), were also dense and had a high energy content. Of the two feedstocks, the whole shrub yielded higher quantities of charcoal that also had a higher energy content than the charcoal produced from bagasse. As a result, the energy recovery, estimated as the percentage of the energy products, to energy input into the reactor was lower (60%) for guayule bagasse than for the whole shrub (73%). This notwithstanding, the bagasse is a more attractive feedstock for thermochemical conversion, not only because it is a residue from a primary process (latex extraction) that is on-site, but also because it has a high energy content. Moreover, it produces high quality pyrolysis products. Co-production of latex rubber from the whole shrub and renewable fuels from the residual bagasse by pyrolysis should improve the already positive economics of the guayule latex rubber industry.