Advances in the Micropropagation and Genetic Transformation of Agave Species

Bautista-Montes, Erika; Hernández-Soriano, Laura; Simpson, June

doi:10.3390/plants11131757

Cited by 9 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…In order to prevent this possible crisis, it is urgent for the sector to mobilize. Through public policies, it would be possible to restore farmers' investment capacity and encourage the production of healthy plants through tissue culture techniques, given that this technology is already mastered for Agave (Das, 1992;Bautista-Montes et al, 2022) and is routinely used in other crops (Gerald et al, 2007;Gerald et al, 2011). It is paramount for farmers to be able to count on a broader variety of species/genotypes and affordable clean plants.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular epidemiology of sisal bole rot disease suggests a potential phytosanitary crisis in Brazilian production areas

Raya,

Quintanilha-Peixoto,

de Oliveira

et al. 2023

Front. Chem. Eng.

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Sisal bole rot disease is the major phytosanitary problem of Agave plantations in Brazil. The disease is caused by a cryptic species of Aspergillus: A. welwitschiae. To date, the only way to diagnose the disease was to observe external symptoms, visible only when the plant is already compromised, or through the isolation and sequencing of the pathogen, which requires cutting the entire plant for bole tissue sampling. We developed a new primer set based on a unique gene region of A. welwitschiae, which can detect the phytopathogenic strains through PCR directly from sisal leaves. Using the new marker to study the main sisal-producing areas in Brazil, we discovered a troublesome situation. The main producing areas of this crop had a pathogen incidence of 78%–88%. The dispersion index indicates a regular spatial pattern for disease distribution, suggesting that the use of contaminated suckers to establish new fields may be the main disease-spreading mechanism. Altogether, the high incidence of the pathogen, the unavailability of clean plants, the unpredictability of disease progression, and the low investment capacity of farmers reveal the vulnerability of this sector to a potential phytosanitary crisis. By correlating the disease symptomatology with soil nutritional traits, we suggest that higher potassium availability might decrease visual symptoms, while phosphorus may have the opposite effect. Also, we observe a potential cultivar effect, suggesting that common sisal may be more susceptible than hybrid cultivars (especially H400). This new molecular tool is a significant advance for understanding the disease, enabling the implementation of a monitoring program and studies that may lead to pathogen control strategies and changes in the Brazilian production model.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular epidemiology of sisal bole rot disease suggests a potential phytosanitary crisis in Brazilian production areas

Raya,

Quintanilha-Peixoto,

de Oliveira

et al. 2023

Front. Chem. Eng.

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“…Since the early 2000s, tissue culture has been used to produce Agave plants ( Jacques et al , 2003 ). Recently, micropropagation and genetic transformation have been considered to be techniques with great potential to mass produce plants ( Bautista-Montes et al , 2022 ).…”

Section: Regionalized Products From Agave Species ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Lessons from the history ofAgave: ecological and cultural context for valuation of CAM

Davis

Ortiz-Cano²

2023

Annals of Botany

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Background and Scope Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) is an intriguing physiological adaptation in plants that are widespread throughout many ecosystems. Despite the relatively recent mechanistic understanding of CAM in plant physiology, evidence from historical records suggest that ancient cultures in the Americas also recognized the value of CAM plants. Agave species in particular have a rich cultural legacy that provides a foundation for commercially valued products. Here, we review that legacy and potential relationships between ancient values and the needs of modern-day climate adaptation strategies. Conclusions There are many products that can be produced from Agave spp., including food, sugar, fiber, and medicines. Traditional knowledge about agricultural management and preparation of plant products can be combined with new ecophysiological knowledge and agronomic techniques to develop these resources in the borderland region of the southwest US and Mexico. Historical records of pre-Columbian practices in the Sonoran desert and remnants of centuries-old agriculture in Baja California and Sonora demonstrate the climate resilience of Agave agriculture. Commercial growth of both tequila and bacanora indicates the potential for large-scale production today, but also underscores the importance of adopting regenerative agricultural practice in order to accomplish environmentally sustainable production. Recent international recognition of the Appellation of Origin for several Agave spp. produced for spirits in Mexico may provide opportunities for agricultural diversification. In contrast, fiber is currently produced from several Agave species on many continents. Projections of growth with future climate change suggest that Agave spp. will be viable alternatives for commodity crops that suffer declines during drought and increased temperatures. Historic cultivation of Agave affirms that these CAM plants can supply sugar, soft and hard fibers, medicines, and food supplements.

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“…Fructans constitute the essential raw material to produce tequila and mezcal (iconic beverages of Mexico, Valenzuela-Sánchez et al 2008 ) and although tequila production must be based on A. tequilana (NOM-006-SCFI-2012 ( 2012 )), mezcal, can be produced from different individual species or even mixtures of different species. In addition, the Agave genus has attracted interest for applications in the food industry as substitutes for sugars, for the extraction of bioactive compounds, and in bioethanol production (Bautista-Montes et al 2022 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How to awaken a sleeping giant: antagonistic expression of Flowering locus T homologs and elements of the age-related pathway are associated with the flowering transition in Agave tequilana

Hernández-Soriano,

Gálvez-Sandre,

Ávila de Dios

et al. 2023

Plant Reprod

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Key message Antagonistic expression of Flowering locus T proteins and the ageing pathway via miRNAs and sugar metabolism regulate the initiation of flowering in A. tequilana. Abstract Flowering in commercial plantations of Agave tequilana signals that plants are ready to harvest for tequila production. However, time of flowering is often unpredictable and a detailed understanding of the process would be beneficial in the field, for breeding and for the development of future research. This report describes the functional analysis of A. tequilana FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) genes by heterologous expression in A. thaliana and in situ hybridization in agave plants. The gene structures of the Agave tequilana FT family are also described and putative regulatory promoter elements were identified. Most Agave species have monocarpic, perennial life cycles that can last over 25 years during which plants do not respond to the normal environmental signals which induce flowering, suggesting that the ageing pathway as described in Arabidopsis may play an important role in determining flowering time in these species. Elements of this pathway were analyzed and in silico data is presented that supports the regulation of SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING LIKE proteins (SPL), APETALA2 (AP2) proteins and members of Plant Glycoside Hydrolase Family 32 (PGHF32) by interactions with miRNAs 156, 172 and 164 during the initiation of flowering in A. tequilana.

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Advances in the Micropropagation and Genetic Transformation of Agave Species

Cited by 9 publications

References 37 publications

Molecular epidemiology of sisal bole rot disease suggests a potential phytosanitary crisis in Brazilian production areas

Molecular epidemiology of sisal bole rot disease suggests a potential phytosanitary crisis in Brazilian production areas

Lessons from the history ofAgave: ecological and cultural context for valuation of CAM

How to awaken a sleeping giant: antagonistic expression of Flowering locus T homologs and elements of the age-related pathway are associated with the flowering transition in Agave tequilana

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