The Yucatan Peninsula is the place of origin of sisal (Agave sisalana, Asparagaceae): Historical accounts, phytogeography and current populations

Abstract

Background. Agave sisalana is a cultigen from Mexico. In 1833 it was brought to Florida by Henry Perrine as an experimental crop. From there it was introduced to tropical Africa and Asia in the late 19th Century, where it became established as a fiber crop. Paradoxically, in the Yucatan it meanwhile evanesced from its already scanty presence. Because material was collected from cultivated stock in Chiapas in the 1950s and a neotype from there was selected in 1988, it was assumed to have originated in Chiapas. Questions. Did A. sisalana originate in the Yucatan Peninsula following Perrine (1838a, 1938b) rather than from Chiapas sensu Gentry (1988)? Studied species. Agave sisalana (sisal), one of the strongest natural fibers in the world and a commercially important crop. Study site and dates. Live plants were located in the Yucatan between 2013-2017. Methods. We document historical and current presences of A. sisalana in the Yucatan Peninsula following three lines of evidence: 1) overlooked records and reports in literature; 2) herbarium specimens; and 3) presence of extant populations. Results. Eleven localities in the Yucatan Peninsula still have extant populations of sisal. We uncovered herbarium specimens from the region, including an original specimen by Perrine, from Campeche, which is selected as the lectotype for the name, superseding the neotype from Chiapas. Conclusion. We demonstrate the continued presence of Agave sisalana in the Yucatan Peninsula, even though it has now become rare. It is most likely that the crop was first domesticated there.