Aplicación de ethephon en una población de mezquite (Prosopis spp.) para la extracción de goma en Naica, Chihuahua, México

Abstract

The objective of the research was to extract gum from the mesquite plant, for this, a plant hormone in concentration of 10%, 10.85, 15%, 20%, 25% was used. It was applied to cuts of trunk and secondary branches of trees. The results indicated that 100% of the treated plants produced gum. The duration of the hormone's effect on gum production was nine weeks. Harvests were made every three weeks. No plant showed signs of damage or deterioration. It was observed that as the tree has a greater perimeter of the stem, it produces a greater amount of gum. It was also observed that the plant hormone apparently did not cause biological damage to the leaves and pods according to visual observation compared to other trees without treatment. The proximal chemical analysis that both mesquite and huizache gums have similarity and even improve the parameters required by the Food and Drug Administration for the use of gum arabic in the food industry. The production and harvest periods are from February to June and from September to December. There is an estimated average production of around 180 gr per tree production season.