KULTEVAT, Inc — Department of Agriculture SBIR Phase II: 8.2

Description

Kultevat Inc. aims to produce natural rubber from Taraxacum kok-saghyz (TKS) at scale toachieve high quality product at a price point that is attractive to customers in particular to US basedcompanies. To date the economics of growing TKS and extracting rubber from its roots at a pricepoint that is competitive with Hevea rubber has not been demonstrated. During Phase I research anRNAi gene silencing strategy was used to reduce the activity of genetic repressors that control plantflowering with the goal to delay flowering of TKS. The technology referred to as BiomassEnhancement Technology (BET) was developed by Performance Plants Inc. and was soleylicensed to Kultevat Inc. for use in TKS in North America. A similar technical approach resulted ina 1-4 fold increase of biomass in crop plants in which it has been applied. The immediate goal ofthis Phase II project is to scale up confirmed T0 TKS-BET lines by clonal propagation to use for T1seed production. Cellular molecular and biochemical characterization will be done to verify (1) anincrease in cell/biomass growth and (2) total rubber content per plant of ensuing T1 plant lines.The best T1 lines identified will be used in pollen-crossing to produce pre-commercialization T2varieties. Success will lead to future R&D to develop a commercial variety for the US spawning anew US-based industry that will supply markets for natural rubber and inulin.