AGAVE TEQUILANA: CHARACTERISTICS, HABITAT, USES, CULTIVATION - SCIENCE - 2024

The Agave tequilana is a perennial succulent plant belonging to the Agavaceae family native to the xerophilous regions of Mexico. It is characterized by its long, almost flat lanceolate leaves of blue-green color with a terminal spine of 2 cm of dark red color.

Indeed, the species Agave tequilana, known as blue agave, has multiple uses as food, forage, construction and medicine. However, its main use is the production of tequila with exclusive designation of origin for the states of Jalisco, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit and Tamaulipas in Mexico.

The commercial crops of the blue agave are distributed at a north latitude between 5º and 25º. In fact, the crop is adapted to subtropical semi-arid and semi-humid regions with warm, semi-warm and temperate thermal regimes.

This plant has a high content of soluble solids -33% -, consisting of fructans -70% -, cellulose -25% - and lignin -5% -. In addition, it has 67% humidity, and a large amount of essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals.

In Mexico, the production, industrialization and commercialization of products derived from Agave tequilana are officially regulated. In this regard, for a drink to receive the name of tequila, it must be obtained from 100% sugars from the Agave tequilana Weber blue variety.

General characteristics

Morphology

The Agave tequilana is a succulent plant whose root system is made up of a thick central axis and numerous secondary roots. These thick, spreading secondary roots can reach a radius of 1.2-1.8 m in length.

It has a thick and short stem that barely reaches 30-50 cm in height when ripe. The central stem called pineapple, heart or head is the usable part of the plant, where sugars accumulate during ripening.

Detail of the leaves of Agave tequilana. Source: Stan Shebs

The lanceolate leaves of light green or grayish green color, are firm and rigid, 90-120 cm long. Being broad at the base and narrow towards the end, with wavy margins and with small, regularly spaced 3-6 mm spines.

The apex of the leaves has flexible red to dark brown spines 1-2 cm long. The blue agave plant at the end of its vegetative period -8-12 years- produces an inflorescence 5-6 m high.

The densely branched panicle in the terminal part presents 20-25 elongated and diffuse umbels of yellowish-green flowers and pink stamens. Many times a large number of flowers detach without being pollinated and are replaced by small bulblets or flower buds.

The fruits are oval capsules, however, the few fruiting structures that manage to form contain numerous white seeds. Both the seeds and the flower bulblets have low viability, so they are not commonly used as a means of reproduction.

Taxonomy

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Division: Magnoliophyta
• Class: Liliopsida
• Order: Asparagales
• Family: Asparagaceae
• Subfamily: Agavoideae
• Genus: Agave
• Species: Agave tequilana FAC Weber

Etymology

• Agave is the generic name described by Carlos Lineo (1753), derived from the Greek word Agavos, which means admirable or noble.
• tequilana: adjective that is related to the product obtained from the species: tequila.

Habitat and distribution

Agave tequilana requires climates with mild winters and limited periods of rain. In fact, rainfall must supply between 1,000-1,200 mm per year, with an average annual temperature of 20ºC.

In this regard, the temperature interval where the plant effectively expresses its productive characteristics is between 15-25º C during the day. As well as 10-15º C at night, being negatively affected by extreme temperatures lower than 5º C and higher than 35º C.

Cultivation of blue agave in Jalisco. Source: Thomassin Mickaël

Soils must be light, clay loam, well drained, permeable, with a high content of oxides, potassium, iron, magnesium silicates and silica. With slightly alkaline pH, this being an adaptable factor, since the pH can vary from 6.0 to 8.5.

The best terrain is of volcanic origin, preferably above 1,500 meters above sea level. It is important to carry out the plantations in full sun exposure, in regions where cloudy conditions are maintained for 65-10 days a year.

The Agave tequilana species is native to Mexico, being cultivated exclusively in the states of Jalisco, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit and Tamaulipas. The agave plantations to make tequila must be in the area with Denomination of Origin Tequila (DOT).

The territory of origin has been established as that comprised by all the municipalities where the agave is grown in the state of Jalisco. As well as seven municipalities in the state of Guanajuato, thirty from Michoacán, eight from Nayarit and eleven from Tamaulipas.

Applications

The Agave tequilana is a species of great importance at the agro-industrial level. The highest percentage of agricultural production is destined for the production of the alcoholic beverage with a denomination of origin called tequila.

Blue agave contains a large amount of fermentable sugars, including fructose, glucose, and inulin; These are used, in addition to alcoholic beverages, for the production of food additives such as syrups.

Pineapple or harvested heart of blue agave. Source: pixabay.com

The fibers from the cut leaves are used to obtain threads used in the manufacture of fabrics, blankets, backpacks or sacks. In addition, due to their high fiber content, the sheets are used for ceilings or roofs, drainage channels, beams or washing basins.

In an artisanal way, the leaves are used as brushes or brooms, for the manufacture of baskets, containers and the thorns as nails. On a therapeutic level, scientific studies have determined that agave helps combat obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, gastritis and ulcers.

Likewise, the sugars present in the sap of the leaves act as prebiotics by regulating the secretion of insulin, incretin or GLP ₁. It also favors the growth of good bacteria, reducing the growth of pathogens that cause toxic compounds in the intestine.

Culture

Agave multiplication is carried out by seeds, bulblets or suckers, the latter being the most commonly used commercial form to reproduce the species. It is recommended to cut the suckers of healthy plants, when they reach a height of 50 cm.

An agave plant is ready to reproduce at 3-5 years, producing one to two shoots per year. The sowing of the sucker is done before the rainy season, the new plant must be buried, covered with earth and rammed.

Young agave blue. Source: pixabay.com

For the plant to reach its productive maturity, 8-10 years must elapse, time in which continuous maintenance must be carried out. It includes cleaning the land, weed control, fertilization, irrigation, and pest and disease control.

In order to guarantee the homogeneity of the plantation, a meticulous selection of mother plants and suckers must be carried out. Likewise, during growth, tasks are carried out that promote the production and conservation of sugars in the heart of the agave.

As of the sixth year, the practice of barbeo de escobeta of the leaves is carried out in order to favor their maturity. This activity consists of making horizontal cuts of the leaves, leaving the surface flat, also helping with the prevention of pests and diseases.

Upon reaching maturity, a strict barbeing is carried out, leaving the pineapple without stalks. During the dry months the pineapple begins to reduce its size and the inflorescence called quiote originates.

This fast-growing structure can consume the sugars accumulated for years, making it advisable to cut or cut it. Subsequently, the harvest or jima is carried out, which consists of collecting the central part - pineapple, heart - where the greatest amount of sugars is concentrated.

Plagues and diseases

Among the main pests associated with Agave tequilana are larvae of the blind hen beetle (Phyllophaga crinita) and the rhinoceros beetle (Strategus aloeus). As well as the agave or pineapple weevil (Scyphophorus acupunctatus), a species of polyphagous beetle of the Curculionidae family.

At the level of the foliar area, common cermbicides (Acanthoderes funerarius), scales (Acutaspis agavis), mealybugs (Planococcus citri), as well as bud cutters and borers. In this regard, chemical control with organophosphate systemic insecticides, cypermethrins or contact pyrethroids is vital to keep pests out.

Rhinoceros beetle (Strategus aloeus). Source: Shawn Hanrahan

With regard to diseases, in the area of ​​origin of Agave tequilana it is common to find infections caused by fungi or bacteria. Indeed, root and stem rot (Fusarium oxysporum) and bacterial wilt (Erwiniana sp.) Occur.

Symptoms of fusarium rot are manifested as soft rot of the bud, which progresses to the intermediate leaves. Regarding bacterial wilt, wrinkling of tissues due to dehydration or death of the roots is observed.

For the control of the fungus, the application of systemic fungicides from the group of triazoles or contact fungicides is recommended. For bacterial infection, preventive applications of broad spectrum bactericides based on 2% gentamicin sulfate + 6% oxytetracycline hydrochloride are favorable.

References

1. Agave tequilana (2019) Wikipedia, The free encyclopedia. Consultation date: Recovered at: es.wikipedia.org.
2. Bautista Justo, M., García Oropeza, L., Barboza-Corona, JE, & Parra Negrete, LA (2001). The Agave tequilana Weber and the production of tequila. University Act, 11 (2).
3. El Agave (2018) Academia Mexicana del Tequila, CA Legion of Guardians of the Tequila Culture since 2000. Retrieved at: acamextequila.com.mx
4. Pérez Domínguez, JF and Rubio Cortés, R. (2007) Agave pest management and control technology. Knowledge and agronomic practices for the production of Agave tequilana Weber in the area of ​​designation of origin of tequila. pp. 135-168.
5. Rulfo V., FO et al. (ed.) (2007) Knowledge and agronomic practices for the production of Agave tequilana Weber in the area of ​​designation of origin of tequila. National Institute of Forestry, Agricultural and Livestock Research. Pacific Center Regional Research Center. 196 pp. ISBN 978-968-800-726-6.
6. Zúñiga-Estrada, L., Rosales Robles, E., Yáñez-Morales, MDJ, & Jacques-Hernández, C. (2018). Characteristics and productivity of a MAC plant, Agave tequilana developed with fertigation in Tamaulipas, Mexico. Mexican Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 9 (3), 553-564.