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Patterns of genetic diversity in the critically endangered Florida key endemic Consolea corallicola small (Cactaceae): Evidence from inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSRs) DNA polymorphisms

Abstract:

With only two known wild populations, the Florida semaphore cactus [Consolea corallicola (Cactaceae)] is one of the rarest plant species endemic to South Florida. The species is known to occur in two populations in the Lower Florida Keys (currently seven individuals) and in the Upper Florida Keys at (Biscayne National Park (approximately 570 plants). We used ISSR molecular markers to assess the levels of genetic variation of these two populations. We found no genetic diversity within these two populations and only four of the 64 ISSR loci showed differences between them. A single individual from an extirpated population of Big Pine Key is currently maintained in the ex situ collection of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden; this individual was also included in our ISSR study and it was genetically different from the ones in the wild, lacking six alleles found in the two wild populations. Therefore the species is currently comprised of three ISSR genotypes. These results are consistent with previous reproductive biology studies that suggested that C. corallicola does not propagate sexually and that asexual reproduction is the main life-history strategy of this species. Copyright 2005 College of Arts and Sciences.