Genetic diversity and structure of populations in Pilosocereus gounellei (F.A.C.Weber ex K.Schum.) (Cactaceae) in the Caatinga biome as revealed by heterologous microsatellite primers

• Microsatellite transferability was used for genetic characterization of P. gounellei.
• Microsatellite transferability was 15.5% in xiquexique from the Caatinga biome.
• A total of 18 alleles, with an average of 3.6 alleles per locus, were detected.
• Moderate genetic divergence among samples from three Brazilian states was detected.
• High genetic identity values in P. gounellei indicated a narrow genetic base.

Microsatellite transferability was used as a method to examine the genetic diversity and structure of populations in Pilosocereus gounellei seedling samples that have potential to implement effective restoration strategies for degraded and disturbed areas of the Caatinga biome. Genomic DNA was extracted from 85 seedlings obtained from fruit collected from plants growing in native areas in the Brazilian states of Piaui (PI), Rio Grande do Norte (RN), and Bahia (BA). Six microsatellite primers were polymorphic. AMOVA showed higher genetic variation within (72%) than among (28%) the samples from the three states. The high level of similarity between the seedlings from PI, BA, and RN indicated that samples collected at any of the three sites can be used to represent the genetic diversity of the species. Seeds of plants from the three States are recommended as samples for germplasm banks and/or the production of plantlets to i) plant in areas of strategic reserves for forage, ii) deploy new cultivation areas, iii) restore degraded areas in the semi-arid Northeast, and iv) maintain ecological reserve banks and fodder with genetically divergent plants.