Titel: Breeding of Dandelion for Natural Rubber Production
Abstract: Natural rubber is used in thousands of products and often cannot be replaced by its synthetic counterpart. However, the commercial production of natural rubber today relies solely on Hevea brasiliensis, which grows in tropical regions and has an extremely narrow genetic base. To secure the supply of natural rubber, other plant species with high natural rubber content are being researched and bred. One such plant is Taraxacum kok-saghyz, a species of dandelion with a naturally high rubber content. The aim of the breeding effort is to increase the average natural rubber content and root mass to create a sustainable, environmentally friendly and economically viable crop for temperate regions.
Biography: After completing his training as a farmer in 1988, Axel Schechert studied agriculture at the Christian Albrechts University of Kiel and the University of Hohenheim. From 1993 to 1996 he went to Kenya as a PhD student to conduct trials for a QTL mapping study in maize. He received his PhD in Agricultural Sciences from the University of Hohenheim in 1997. He then worked as a sugar beet breeder in a private company and was head of the sugar beet R&D group from 2006 to 2023. Since October 2023 he has been breeding Taraxacum sp. for natural rubber production.
