Abstract:

Rubber dandelion (Taraxacum kok-saghyz) (TK) is considered the best alternative and promising rubber-producing crop for a severe shortage of natural rubber (NR). In order to further understand the potentiality of TK as an economic crop for industrialization, a comprehensive analysis was carried out based on the retrieval of the development and research progress at home and abroad. The results indicated that TK had a great potential in the increase of root-latex output and economic benefits for exploitation and development, because its root contained not only high-quality latex but also other healthy and functional food additives, such as inulin. However, the primary bottleneck problem of the industrializing development is lack of feasible agronomy measures with high-yield and efficiency, resulting in low root-rubber yield, high production cost and low production efficiency. Therefore, it is necessary to target increasing root yield as well as root latex content to accelerate the research of both agronomic traits and cultivating measures on TK cropping in field. The focuses of research are as follows: domestication and improvement of agronomic traits and their adaptability, mechanized direct seeding techniques in field and suitable planting patterns with tillage, plants population formation and prevent from field weeds developing, plant growth rhythm and optimized ways of fertilizing and watering, accumulation and distribution of functional matter and proper harvesting period, and so on. Finally, to integrate planting models and technical systems that are suitable for the characteristics of resource endowment in different regions will be conducive to promoting the development of TK into a feasible industrial economic crop.

Key words: rubber dandelion, industrialization production, production potential, cultivating technology