The ethylene response factor 1 (ERF1) in Arabidopsis coordinates a large
number of genes involved in plant defense. Its orthologue in rubber (Hevea
brasiliensis), HbERF-IXc5, is assumed to play a major role in laticifer
metabolism and tolerance to harvesting stress which directly affects latex
production. Retno Lestari of the French Agricultural Research Centre for
International Development aimed to study transgenic lines of rubber
overexpressing HbERF-IXc5.

Overexpression of HbERF-IXc5 greatly enhanced plant growth and enabled
plants to maintain some physiological parameters in response to abiotic
stresses such as water deficit, cold, and saline conditions. Analysis also
revealed that HbERF-IXc5 has rubber-specific functions as transgenic plants
overexpressing HbERF-IXc5 accumulated more starch and had more latex cells.

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