Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite markers in Galapagos prickly pear (Opuntia) cactus species

• Published in: Molecular ecology notes Vol. 7; no. 3; pp. 454 - 456
• Main Authors: HELSEN, P, VERDYCK, P, TYE, A, DESENDER, K, VAN HOUTTE, N, VAN DONGEN, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.05.2007
• Subjects: Cactaceae; Galápagos; microsatellite repeats; Opuntia; polyploidy

The Opuntia (prickly pear) genus contains over 200 species. Six of them are endemic to the Galapagos archipelago. Although these cacti are 'keystone' species of the Galapagos' semi-arid ecosystem, they have never been studied in detail. Because of their current threatened status and t...