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What is the context of this research?

Cactus are an especially important emerging crop, as they are far more efficient in converting water to dry matter than traditional crops due to a specialized photosynthetic pathway - crassulacean-acid metabolism (CAM) metabolism. With CAM metabolism, atmospheric carbon dioxide is only taken up during the night, when the stomates are open. A staple in Latin American and Native American cultures, Opuntia fruits (tunas) and vegetables (nopalitos) are also popular in Mediterranean and Caribbean countries and are attracting growing interest as new products for the USA. For example, the tonnage of nopalitos consumed annually in Mexico approximately equals the tonnage of cauliflower consumed in the USA.

What is the significance of this project?

This will be the first plant in family Cactaceae to be sequenced.

Despite 20 years of work in field testing and selecting elite clones of cactus, there is a nearly complete lack of knowledge of its genes, and the genetic control of its economically important traits. A comprehensive program is needed to guide germplasm evaluation and genetic improvement of this important botanical model, arid-region staple, and emerging US crop.



What are the goals of the project?