Grindelia, Gumweed (Grindelia camporum Green, Asteraceae): The University of Arizon’s Bioresources Research Facility conduct extensive researchn that surveyed and evaluated a wide arry of desert plants for their biourde production potential. Biocrude is the hydrocarbon and hydrocarbon-like chemical fraction of plants that may be extracted by organic solvents and upgraded to liquid fuel and chemical feedstocks. They demonstrated that plants producing either latex or resinous exudates had the highest percentage of high energy extracts.On the basis of these observations, attention was focused upon those plants that produced resins. One of the most promising of numerous species investigated was Gindelia Valley area of California. This species produces significant quantities of extractable diterpene resin acids The resins are produced in multicellular glands, which are composed of grindelic acid and several of its dervatives, are chemically similar to the resin acids that consitute rosin, a principle product of the naval stores industry. Naval stors is a generic term for a large class kof chemicals that include turpentine, faty acids that have wide and diverse industrial applications. The supply of high quality wood rosin, which is extracted from aged pine stumps is essentially exhausted. The recovery of gum jrosin by tapping living pine trees is very labor intensive, and production within the United States has declined to nearly Zero. The United States market has required moe than 500 million kg of rosin in the recent past. Resins extracted from grindelia most likely could substitute for rosin in numerous industrial applications. If so, the [production of sufficient acreage of grindelia in the and Southwest to meet the domestic demand for rosin would have a significant impact on the agricultural economy. Preliminary agronomic, breeding and genetic research were initiated in 1981. Hoffmann and McLaughlin (1986) reported that tetraploid lines of G. camporum will produce about 11,350 kg/ha-year of biomass by harvesting the stand twice and applying about 750 mm of irrigation water. This level of irrigation is low compared to the amount of water applied to most crops currently grown in the Southwest. The current germplasm of G. camporum produces about 10% crude resin, which equates to an annual yield of around 1,135 kg/ha. Economic projections indicate that yields of cruder resin would need to be increased by breeding end selection to a level of 15-20% to be competitive. Generic analyses and selection studies indicate that such an improvement in resin concentration and yield is feasible. In addition to its high yield of crude resin G. camporum also has other characterstics that favour domistaction. It has an upright , herbaceous growth habit. Many accessions have an annual life cycle and the ability to regenerate growth from the root crown to produce two crops in a single growing season. The species has good tolerance to salinity and diseases as well as drought. Current research on grindelia is now at a very low level. Funding from industrial sources supported initial research, but was subsequently terminated at a time when good progress was being made. It is regrettable that adequate funding is not currently available to carry forware this promoising effort. The modle employed in the funding of cuphea research maybe appropriate in developing commercial opportunities with grindelia. In supporting research with cuphea a three-way funding involving essentially equal financial nputs of federal, state, and industry sectors has been quite effective. Each concerned sector recives considerable leverage for each dollar invested. This also has the added advantage of involvement in all sector in the planning and execution of the needed research and development efforts leading to full commercialization.
Euphorbia, Gopher Plat (Euuporbia lathyris L., Euphorbiaceae):Euphorbia lathyris, a latex-bearing plant, received world-wide attention for several years as a possible source of liquid fuels. Dr. Melvin Calvin (1978, 1979) first brought attention to the plants as a candidate for “petroleum plantations” since he belived it to be adapted to dry, semi-arid lands. He estimated that energy plantations of this species would produce annual yields of at least the equivalent of 25 bbl of crude oil per hectare. He reasoned that cultivation of marginal semiarid arid and lands would make good use of the long growing season and the highly intense solar radiation in these regions. Another positive factor would be that such a cropping system would not be directly competitive with conventional food, feed, and fiber production systems. Unfortunately, the high hopes and expectations were not realized. A rather comprehensive three-year research program was undertaken in 1979 mat the University of Arizona at Tucson. The result of this research are well summarized by Kingsolver (1982). In brief, the development program was initiated with a logical, multidisciplinary approach. Germplasm evaluation was conducted to determine various cultural and water requirements. The first planting as a summer crop was a complete failure. It was found that euphorbia could be grown more successfully as a winter crop. Under these growing conditions it used 710 mm of water (irrigation requirement of about 1,000 mm) to produce a maximum of 15 tons of dry biomass and the equivalent of 7.5 bbl crude ouil/ha. This yield was only about 30% of that originally estimated by Calvin, and clearly uneconomical. The germplasm evaluation further indicated that genetic variability was low for the amount of high-energy extractable materials. It was concluded that rapid development of improved germplasm would be unlikely within the exisiting and other soil-born diseases endemic in desert soils throughoput the Southwest. Another factor in the failour of euphorbia to develop into a successful new crop was the limited usefulness of the planmnts chemical composition. The oil of E. lathyris is similar to crude oil, in that it can be catalytically cracked to produce a significant portion of fuel fractions. However, since fossil fule crude oil was and continues to remain relatively low priced and in good supply, competitive market factors effectively dampened enthusiasm and support to continue funding research on euphorbia and other potential plant oil sources. To have a fighting chance of reaching commercialization, a bioenergy crop nees to contain a chemical composition useful as a product or a feedstock for products that are in some way unique and significantly more valuable than crude oil Unfortunately constituent analysis of E. lathyris did not identify any potentially useful bulk specialty chemicals. The limited supply of fossil fuels may one day confer an economic and energetic advantage to the utilization of such plants as E. lathyris. When this point is reached, research and development may succed in domesticating E. lathyris for commercial production of biocrude oil. However, since E. lathyris is mesophytic rather than xerophutic, development and production of euphorbia as a new crop most likely would occur in more temperate areas with higher rainfall than the and Southwest. At least five of the six plants discussed have good potential for eventual domestication and development as new industrial crops for and lands. All examples have positive attributes as well as constraints to varying degrees. Guayyule is judged to have the best opportunity for critical importance and of sufficient demand to stimulate interest and participation of industry as well as the public sector. The research and development program is full acceptance. Sufficient rubber yield is recognized as the chief constraint, and good progress is being made in the plant breeding and genetic program involving state and federal cooperation. Additional financial support to this area is needed and would yield high dividens. Jojoba has real potential as a source of liquid wax, but it is an example of where all facets of the new crops development process were not well coordinated. One of the major constraints is the minimal input in the area of plant breeding and selection of high yielding clones. Large areas of unselected material were planted and have been discarded due to very low yield. Another aspect is the lack of utilization research to develop new products and uses to absorb the increasing production and to maintain sufficient monetary return for the growers and prcessors. Lesquerella is judged to have very good potential as a source of hydroxyl fatty acids, and could be a successful new crop within a relatively short period of time. Current research is at a very minimal level. The scope of the research to cover all aspects of breeding, Production, Processing, and utilization needs to be defined and increased, and supported by both public and industry sectors to achieve rapid development and acceptance. Buffalo gourd appeared to have outstanding attributes for development into a successful new crop for and areas. Much good research was conducted on all aspects of production and utilization. Serious constraints developed relative to disease problems of perennial plantings and low seed yields. Yields of starch from roots of plants grown as an annual were acceptable. One of the most serious constraints was the lack of production of any specific high-valued specialty chemicals. Cucurbitacins, which are natural insect attractants and have other potential uses, may provide this needed boots. The other main products__ edible oil, protein and starch are not that unique and directly compete with other conventional crops grown in temperate climates. Economic conditions and supply needs do have a way of changing, which may one day favour full development of the potential of the buffalo gourd and related arid-adapted cucurbits. Grindelia holds considerable promises as a domestic source of diterpene resins that have a varity of important industrial applications. Initial research conducted at a relatively minimal level appeared to be quite promising. The program received little public support to allow development to go forward. There appears to be sufficient potential for improving resin yields to an economically feasible level through plant breeding and agronomic research. Utilization research is needed to develop method of extraction and refining, and the development of new products and uses to improve economic return. Euphorbia lathyris was touted as a new plant source of liquid fuels. It was origionally thought to be adapted to and conditions, but this did not prove to be true. The crop completely faild when planted during the summer growing period of the and Southwest. Plants tested jfrom a worldwide collection showed little genetic varibality, little adaption to and environments, and extreme susceptibility to soil-borne diseases endemic to and lands. It also lacked an identifiable high-valued specialty chemical that would increase its economic viability. While economic conditions may one day warrant revisiting euphoribia as a renewable source of liquid fuels, such development would most likely occur in temperate areas to which the species is better adapted. It can be seen from the above facts, that development of new industrial crops for and lands holds considerable potential. However, to be fully successfully many factors must come together and considerable multidisciplinary expertise and effort must be employed. It is also clear that some highly valued, specialty products such as natural rubber, resins, or an oil with a unique chemical structure and commercial application are needed to stimulate interest and support from both public and industry sectors. Interest and support of industry and active particption in the planning and funding of research and development are vital to successful commercialization. Another important factor is to recognize that new crop development requires strong and long-term commitment to allow sufficient time for orderly research and development.