Evolution under domestication of correlated characters in populations of Stenocereus stellatus (Pfeiff.) Riccob., under different forms of management in central Mexico: genetic diversity, damage, and defense mechanisms

Abstract Across the process of domestication, human selection produces changes in target attributes as well that are not necessarily desired by humans due to pleiotropic or linked genes. In this paper we addressed, correlated between genetic diversity, damage level, defense mechanisms (resistance and tolerance), fitness domestication Stenocereus pruinosus (Otto ex Pfeiff.) Buxbaum stellatus (Pfeiff.) Riccobono, an endemic columnar cactus south-central Mexico. One hundred eighty individuals S. from wild, situ managed, cultivated populations Valle de Tehuacán Mixteca Baja, Puebla, were sampled, including (number fruits) measured. The DNA 176 was extracted amplify analyze five microsatellites order estimate diversity structure. As expected, showed a significantly higher lower resistance diversity. Depending on form management, correlations rest exhibited different patterns. wild populations, positively with negatively resistance; managed opposite pattern, no found these attributes. We propose hypothetic model explain variation correlations. No differences tolerance detected regions; however, more resistance. both regions, positive correlation negative resistance, suggesting existence mechanism ensure fitness. Also, non-regional differentiation suggests eventual gene flow pollinators, movement branches, common ancestry before process.