Natural rubber.

This chapter focuses on the different sources of natural rubber, history of Hevea sp. rubber, composition, chemistry and properties of Hevea latex, the botany, origin and ecology of the rubber tree, rubber biosynthesis, rubber tree cultivation (propagation, crop management, rubber tapping and pests and diseases), research needs, conventional and molecular breeding methods, rubber processing (latex concentrate, dry rubber and quality control) and manufacturing of rubber goods. The natural rubber trading, rubber products, additional uses of the rubber tree, fate of used rubber products and the current status and future prospects of the rubber industry are also discussed.