Paper Details

PJB-2025-56

Cladode morphology and AFLP patterns can help in the identification of Mexican cactus genotypes (Opuntia spp.)

María Daniela Ortíz Robles, Silvia Flores-Benítez, Luis L. Valera Montero, Catarino Perales Segovia, Irma Guadalupe López Muraira, Carlos Iván Cruz Cárdenas, Lizeth Rodríguez Gómez, Mayra I. Montero Cortés, Clemente Gallegos Vazquez and Héctor Silos-Espin
Abstract

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Fifty genotypes of prickly pear (Opuntia spp.) native to Mexico were analyzed based on cladode morphology and AFLP patterns. Genotypes grouped by cladode morphology were categorized as "spiny" and "few-spiny." An image catalog was also generated, and length/width ratios were calculated as the primary identifier. Molecular analysis revealed species-specific relationships by size and degree of domestication. Species such as O. albicarpa and O. megacantha were located at the extremes, while O. ficus-indica occupied a central position in the dendrogram. Two large groups were formed: Group I, which included six genotypes (three O. albicarpa and three O. ficus-indica) with similar fruit color (yellow). Group II included 44 genotypes subdivided into two groups. Subdivision 1 included only three genotypes of O. albicarpa and O. ficus-indica that matched the cladode's broad elliptical shape, large size, and light green color. Subdivision 2 included genotypes with diverse shapes, from elliptical and oval to rhomboid, but characterized by the presence of medium to large spines. The most closely related O. ficus-indica genotypes had values greater than 0.8, suggesting an intention to generate species with fewer spines.  In summary, this work could be used as a reference to relate the morphological characteristics of cladodes with AFLP for better identification of Opuntia genotypes

To Cite this article: Ortíz-Robles, M.D., S. Flores-Benítez, L.L. Valera-Montero, C.P. Segovia, I.G. López-Muraira, C.I. Cruz-Cárdenas, L.R. Gómez, M.I. Montero-Cortés, C..G. Vazquez and H. Silos-Espino. 2026. Cladode morphology and AFLP patterns can help in the identification of Mexican cactus genotypes (Opuntia spp.). Pak. J. Bot., 58(3): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2026-3(17)  
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