Observaciones de aparada

Maguey do Cerrado is a morphological variety of the Salmiana section of the Agave genus. In order to morphologically characterize the ecotype Maguey do Cerrado, for the purpose of protection, procedures were performed to evaluate distinction, homogeneity and stability in two growth cycles of the plants between the years 1999 and 2016, in the city of Goiânia (GO).

A new structural characteristic of adaptation to the environment was also detected, using as an indicator the quality of the sap produced by Maguey do Cerrado, which can be verified by its chemical and bromatological composition, rich in polysaccharides, simple sugars and alcohol.

As an indicator of functional adaptation, the behavior of movement of the leaves stands out, with the goal of hydric redistribution during the severe drought and the abundant rain periods. The specific modifications found in these characteristics are compatible with the structural adaptation resources for hydric redistribution identified in other species of plants that develop in Cerrado.

Preliminary results of the determination of the total sugars of Maguey do Cerrado sap in natura revealed a fructophilic substrate composed by 62% of sugars, 32% being fructose and 30% being glucose. Among the main microorganisms present in the microbiota of Maguey do Cerrado sap were those already described in international studies: Lactobacillus acidóphilus, Zymomonas mobilis, Leuconostoc sp e Kluyveromyces.

The characteristics of adaptation to the environment of Maguey do Cerrado are divided between structural and functional. The adaptations developed for more efficient water uptake and lower energy outlay were identified as indicators of structural modification: the first indicator refers to the size of the rosettes that developed larger diameters. The second refers to the design of the leaves, which showed a prominent enlargement on the medium part. The third indicator refers to the height of the flower stalk, significantly lower, reaching an average of 4 meters.

In 2016 the descriptors for characterization of the local ecotype Maguey do Cerrado were presented in 4 stages:

1. A phenotypical, ecological and botanical review on Agave salmiana, with the goal to fill the gap on the taxonomic identity of this species in Brazil.
2. Description of the differentiation characteristics between Agave salmiana and the species of Cultivar that most closely resembles it in Brazil, Agave americana L. The morphological aspects of the plants were classified through the selection of grouping characteristics, referenced by the Technical Guide of Varietal Description for Agave (SNICS, 2014). Using official descriptors of the species/genera, the differentiation characteristics between 270 specimens of the two species (200 A. Americana and 70 A. salmiana) were described.
3. Taxonomic identification and determination of the ecotype Maguey do Cerrado.
4. Characterization of the differentiation descriptors of Maguey do Cerrado.