The possibilities of breeding long fibre agaves with a high rate of leaf unfurling and a high rate of increase in leaf length.

Abstract

The vegetative development of the sisal plant is described with particular reference to the rate of leaf unfurling and the rate of increase in leaf length. The significance of these characteristics, particularly the latter, for fibre production is discussed. It is shown that a high rate of increase in leaf length is a desirable characteristic of a long-fibre agave. Observations made on a number of Agave hybrids, however, indicate that there is a marked negative correlation between rate of leaf unfurling and rate of increase in leaf length. The consequences are discussed.-Sisal Res. Stat., Mlingano, Tanzania. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)