SUGARS AND ALCOHOLIC BYPRODUCTS FROM HENEQUEN (Agave fourcroydes) AS INFLUENCED BY PLANT AGE AND CLIMATE

Abstract

Henequen (Agave fourcroydes Lem.) is a well known fiber producing plant cultivated in the Yucatán peninsula in México. Recent studies revealed that the stem locally known as “piña” is a reservoir of non structural carbohydrates, which may be fermented to produce an alcoholic spirit similar to mezcal and tequila. In this work we determined the effect of plant age and climatic conditions through the year on sugars and alcohol production. “Piñas” from 5, 8, 15, 18 and 19 year-old plants were harvested in the spring and autumn dry seasons, as well as in the rainy season of one single year. “Piñas” fresh weight varied from 5.2 to 6.7 kg. Harvested “piñas” were cut into small pieces and cooked, followed by pressing to extract their juice; then the juice was fermented with Kluyveromyces marxianus native yeast isolated from henequen, and distilled to obtain two alcoholic products: “ordinary” (monodistilled) and “white” (bidistilled). Results showed that 19 year-old plants yielded the highest volume of ordinary alcohol production (159 mL per liter of juice). ”Piñas” harvested in the dry spring season produced greater quantities of “ordinary” alcohol than those harvested during the dry autumn and in the rainy seasons.