Resumo

GARCIA-NUNEZ, Hilda Guadalupe et al. Effect of salicylic acid on increase of biomass and reducing sugars in Agave cupreata and Agave salmiana. Polibotánica [online]. 2026, n.61, pp.329-342.  Epub 18-Maio-2026. ISSN 1405-2768.  https://doi.org/10.18387/polibotanica.61.19.

Agave is a succulent plant rich in natural sugars, making it ideal for the production of spirits, most notably tequila, mezcal, bacanora, and pulque. The main raw material for producing these beverages is the stem, or heart of the agave, which contain fermentable sugars. The quantity and type of sugars in thestem determine the quality of the alcohol produced. Agave production is limited because its reproductive cycle is very long (7-35 years), and depending on the species, the stems are harvested when they reach optimal maturity. Given this limitation, it is important to seek efficient and ecological strategies to accelerate the growth and biomass of these plants. In this regard, salicylic acid (SA) has been reported as a plant hormone that plays a crucial role in regulating plant growth and development. Furthermore, it participates in some mechanisms that influence biomass increase. Therefore, its application could enhance agave metabolism. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of salicylic acid (AS) on the growth, biomass increase, and reducing sugars in Agave cupreata and A. salmiana plants cultivated in a semi-hydroponic system under greenhouse conditions, where all plants were evaluated under identical nutritional conditions. After 8 months of cultivation, leaves, stems, and roots were collected to assess the effect of AS on morphological characteristics, as well as the amount of dry organic matter and reducing sugars. AS had a differential effect on the two agave species evaluated; in the stem of A. cupreata, a significant increase in dry organic matter was observed when 1 µM was applied, while in A. salmiana, a high concentration of dry organic matter was observed in the root when 3.6 µM of AS was applied. A significant increase in reducing sugars (72 g/100 g) was observed in the stem and leaves of Agave salmiana with 1 µM of salicylic acid (SA), with the leaves showing the greatest increase in biomass in both agave species. Growth, biomass, and reducing sugar concentration decreased negatively with the highest SA concentration (7.2 µM). In this study, the application of low concentrations of salicylic acid positively influenced the increase in biomass and reducing sugar content of agave plants, while at high concentrations, SA had an inhibitory effect on these variables. Furthermore, the production of agave plants under greenhouse conditions in semi-hydroponic systems is a strategy that can help plants accelerate their growth rate and increase their biomass. This translates to faster production of reducing sugars by making photosynthesis more efficient. Additionally, it optimizes water conservation during irrigation, serving as an environmentally friendly strategy to help protect this natural resource. This study constitutes the first report of the application of SA and semi-hydroponic systems in plants with CAM metabolism.

Palavras-chave : Agave; Biomass; Salicylic Acid; Sugars.

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