Epicuticular wax analysis of wild and agronomically important Agave species

摘要: Abstract Agaves are cultivated in Mexico as a source of industrial products such fibers, nutritional supplements and alcoholic beverages. A particularly important trait present all agaves, which makes them economically viable crops for certain geographic regions, is their ability to grow under water limiting conditions. One the anatomical characteristics that contributes this adaptation, thick layer epicuticular waxes deposited on surface reduces loss by evapotranspiration. Still, date, spite economic importance, there has been practically no effort improve genetics productivity agaves; investigation focuses differences content types leaves wild agronomically Agave species with different ploidy level. The agaves analyzed were two diploids [A. tequilana Weber hybrid H11648 (A. amaniensis Trel. & Nowell x A. angustifolia Haw. back crossed amaniensis)]; pentaploids fourcroydes var. Sac ki Yaax ki) hexaploid Chelem obtained hexane extraction chemical composition was established capillary gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS). amount wax varied significantly between (4.40–35.63 μg cm−2), Ki (hexaploid) (diploid) presenting highest lowest amounts, respectively. With exception tequilana, n-alkanes main components (63.32–92.13 % total wax) wax, hentriacontane (C31) tritriacontane (C33) compounds. Alternatively, aliphatic alcohols wax. These results suggest correlation content, level type habitat they grow. This information understanding tolerance stress.