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Clonal diversity and distribution in Stenocereus eruca (Cactaceae), a narrow endemic cactus of the Sonoran Desert¹

²Instituto de Ecología-UNAM, Departamento de Ecología de la Biodiversidad, Estación Regional del Noroeste, Apartado Postal 1354, C.P. 83000, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; ³Instituto de Ecología-UNAM, Departamento de Ecología Funcional, Apartado Postal 70-275, México, D.F. C.P. 04510, Mexico; ⁴Instituto de Ecología-UNAM, Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Apartado Postal 70-275, México, D.F. C.P. 04510, Mexico

Stenocereus eruca (Cactaceae), a prostrate cactus endemic to the Sonoran Desert, is thought to be highly clonal. We examined its clonal diversity and distribution: (1) at the population level, in four distinct populations along its distribution range; and (2) at a micro scale level, within a single population. Our objective was to evaluate the importance of sexual versus clonal recruitment through the use of RAPD markers. Contrary to previous field observations, clonal diversity was relatively high across the distribution range. This finding suggests that sexual recruitment is an important regeneration mechanism. The proportions of distinguishable genotypes (G/N = 0.83) and genotypic diversity (D = 0.987) were greater than in other clonal cacti, suggesting that clonal propagation is not the major regeneration mechanism. Autocorrelation analyses revealed a spatial genetic structure that may be the result of restricted gene flow (via pollen or seeds) and clonal propagation. A molecular variance analysis (AMOVA) indicated that most of the variation (66.3%) was found within and not across populations. Future studies on pollen and seed dispersal are needed to understand the role of the clonal habit in the mating system of S. eruca.

Key Words: Baja California • Cactaceae • clonal diversity • RAPD • spatial genet structure • Sonoran Desert • Stenocereus eruca

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