Opportunities and challenges: Guayule and TKS: Two sides to two promising alternatives for hevea.

The article discusses the challenges and opportunities of finding alternatives to the hevea brasiliensis rubber tree, which is currently the main source of natural rubber. The hevea tree is susceptible to disease and is grown in limited regions, posing a risk to the global economy. Two promising alternatives are the guayule desert shrub and the TKS dandelion. Guayule can be grown in arid conditions, has unique latex properties, and is beneficial to pollinators. TKS has rubber properties similar to hevea and can be grown in colder regions. However, both alternatives face challenges in terms of funding, lower yields, and cultivation methods. [Extracted from the article]

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