Agave rhodacantha, popularly known as Maguey Mexicano, reproduces through bulblets, which are vegetative shoots that arise from the flower stalks, the stem and the axillary buds between the leaves. These bulblets are harvested when they are 5 to 10 cm long and transferred to nurseries. In this controlled environment, the bulblets grow for about a year and a half until they reach the optimum size for transplanting to the final field. This method of reproduction ensures the genetic continuity of the plant and is fundamental for the conservation of the specific characteristics of the Maguey Mexicano.
The practice of growing bulblets in nurseries prior to final transplanting is an agricultural strategy that maximizes the survival rate and healthy growth of young plants. This approach allows for more robust and uniform development, which is crucial for the production of high quality agaves, necessary for the production of mezcal and other derived products. In addition, this process reflects the intersection of traditional agricultural techniques with modern botanical knowledge, demonstrating how ancestral practices can adapt and thrive in the contemporary context.
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