Agave tequilana Through the 1990s, diseases spread, particularly "Fusarium" fungi and "Erwinia" bacteria, exacerbated by the low genetic diversity of the agave plants. Other problems include the agave weevil, "Scyphophorus acupunctatus", and a fungus, "Thielaviopsis paradoxa". According to a 2004 study, additional pathogens, "Erwinia carotovora", "Enterobacter agglomerans", "Pseudomonas mendocina", and "Serratia" spp. are responsible for continued rot. The homoisoflavanones 5,7-dihydroxy-3-(4-methoxybenzyl)-chroman-4-one, 7-hydroxy-3-(4-hydroxybenzyl)-chroman-4-one and 4’-demethyl-3,9-dihydro-punctatin can be isolated from "A. tequilana". Agave tequilana Agave tequilana, commonly called blue agave () or tequila agave, is an agave plant that is an important economic product of Jalisco, Mexico, due to its role as the base ingredient
Arak (drink) Arak (drink) Arak or araq is a West Asian distilled spirit (~40–63% alc/vol or ~80–126 proof) in the anise drinks family. It is a translucent white unsweetened anise-flavored drink, which is traditionally made of only two ingredients, grapes and aniseed. Aniseeds are the seeds of the anise plant, and when crushed, their oil provides Arak with a slight licorice taste. Arak is the traditional alcoholic beverage in Western Asia, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean, as well in Iran, Armenia and Lebanon. The word arak comes from Arabic "" , meaning 'perspiration'. Its pronunciation varies depending on local varieties of Arabic: