Arizona Sun Grant News
Given the tremendous diversity within the Western Region, research has emphasized those feedstocks and other crops uniquely appropriate for the region in terms of self-sufficiency and complementary to those of other regions.
One focus of Arizona’s Sun Grant-related work has been on the many unique crops and plants that thrive here. For example, many indigenous plants of the American Southwest have the capacity to survive in the hostile desert environment as well as high photosynthetic capacities. Both of these attributes contribute to the production and accumulation of large quantities of secondary plant compounds, some of which have commercial applications as specialty chemicals.
Acacia senegal, an African species which can be cultivated in the US Southwest is known to produce Gum Arabic which is used internally in treating inflammation of intestinal mucosa and externally to cover inflamed surfaces. Arizona researchers have found an Acacia species which grows well in the Arizona desert and produces a useful anticancer agent.
Another local species, Mormon tea (Ephedra), is a popular herbal supplement which grows in arid environments. Unlike the Chinese Ephedra, it does not contain ephedrine, and is therefore safe to use. There currently is a considerable market for Mormon tea in Utah and Colorado. Finally, Arizona researchers are also examining sweet sorghum as a potential feedstock for ethanol production.