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our scientific knowledge of the cacti themselves.
Preliminary data from the work of Dr. Terry and colleagues at Texas A&M showed that there was no observable variation in the genotypes at two microsatellite loci, either among individuals in a given population or even between two disjunct Chihuahuan Desert populations. The individuals from a Tamaulipecan Thornscrub population likewise had uniform genotypes, but they differed from those of the Chihuahuan Desert populations. Those results suggest that the genus comprising peyote cacti may be able to be broken down into distinguishable clusters of genetically similar/identical populations. The results of this study, being conducted in collaboration with Dr. Héctor Hernández et al. at the National Autonomous University of México, should add to our understanding of how many species, subspecies or varieties of peyote there are in this genus that is so variable in its morphology. 2) A long-term study of the biogeography of peyote – to learn the extent of its natural geographic range and the common elements of its various natural habitats – will continue. 3) New metabolic & biochemical studies of peyote are needed (the original studies having been done mostly in the 1970's). Additional equipment, personnel and operational funding are needed to effect such studies. |
 by Dana M. Price & Martin Terry |
 by Martin Terry |
by Martin Terry
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 by Joselyn Fenstermacher |
Cactus
Conservation
Institute
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