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Title: Demonstration of a Strict Molecular Oxygen Requirement of Yellow Latex Oxidation in the Central Amazon Canopy Tree Muiratinga (Maquira sclerophylla (Ducke) C.C. Berg)

Journal Article · · Revista Virtual de Quimica
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [3];  [3];  [3];  [4]
  1. National Inst. for Amazon Research, Manaus-AM (Brazil); Federal Univ. of ParanĂ¡, Curitiba-PR (Brazil). Forest Sciences Dept.
  2. National Inst. for Amazon Research, Manaus-AM (Brazil); Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Climate Science Dept., Earth Science Division
  3. National Inst. for Amazon Research, Manaus-AM (Brazil)
  4. National Inst. for Amazon Research, Manaus-AM (Brazil); Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Climate Science Dept., Earth Science Division; Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States). Dept. of Geography

Plant-derived latex is widely used in rubber production and plays important roles in ecological processes in the tropics. Although it is known that latex oxidation from the commercially important tree Hevea brasiliensis, results in latex browning, little is known about latex oxidation in highly diverse tropical ecosystems. Here we show that upon physical trunk damage, yellow latex released from the canopy tree Muiratinga (Maquira sclerophylla (Ducke) C.C. Berg) is rapidly and extensively oxidized to a black resin in the presence of air within 15-30 min. In a nitrogen atmosphere, latex oxidation was inhibited, but was immediately activated upon exposure to air. The results suggest the occurrence of O2-dependent oxidative enzymes including polyphenol oxidase (PPO) within the latex of Muiratinga and supports previous findings of a key role of oxidation during latex coagulation.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
1567103
Journal Information:
Revista Virtual de Quimica, Vol. 10, Issue 5; ISSN 1984-6835
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Figures / Tables (6)