Genetic Diversity and Conservation of Agave Species

The genus Agave encompasses more than 200 species adapted to arid and semi-arid environments across the Americas. These long-lived perennial succulents display remarkable genetic variation, shaped by historical gene flow, clonal reproduction and human-mediated selection. In wild populations, pollinators such as bats and insects facilitate cross-pollination over large distances, promoting widespread genetic connectivity. Traditional in situ management systems, from forest agroecosystems to live-fence plantings, maintain both morphological and allelic diversity by tolerating wild seedlings and promoting mixed stands. Conversely, modern monocultural plantations, often propagated vegetatively, risk narrowing genetic reservoirs. Conservation strategies integrate ex situ germplasm banks, seed-based restoration and community-driven management plans. Genomic tools now reveal shallow population structure in many taxa, underscoring the importance of landscape-level conservation and of preserving mating networks. Practical applications extend from safeguarding wild gene pools to ensuring the resilience of agave-based industries, such as tequila, bacanora and pulque production. Effective conservation hinges on linking ecological genomics with traditional knowledge and on balancing sustainable harvest with the maintenance of adaptive potential under climate change.

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Genetic Diversity and Conservation of Agave Species publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in genetic diversity and conservation of agave species across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP): A variation at a single base pair in genomic DNA used as a marker for assessing genetic structure.

Microsatellite: A short, tandemly repeated DNA sequence, also known as simple sequence repeat, employed to measure allelic diversity and heterozygosity.

Domestication syndrome: A suite of morphological and genetic traits that evolve under human selection, such as increased plant size and altered reproductive structures.

Genetic drift: Random changes in allele frequencies within a population, particularly pronounced in small or clonally propagated stands.

Gene flow: The transfer of genetic material between populations, promoting connectivity and reducing regional differentiation.

References

1. Anatomical-Foliar Diversity of Agave salmiana subsp. salmiana (Asparagaceae) in Three Populations of the Teotihuacán Region (Mexico). Plants (2024).
2. Morphological and Genetic Variation in Monocultures, Forestry Systems and Wild Populations of Agave maximiliana of Western Mexico: Implications for Its Conservation. Frontiers in Plant Science (2020).
3. Pollination Biology and Adaptive Radiation of Agavaceae, with Special Emphasis on the Genus Agave. Aliso (2006).
4. Morphological and genetic diversity of traditional varieties of agave in Hidalgo State, Mexico. PLOS ONE (2021).
5. Genomic Analyses of Wild and Cultivated Bacanora Agave (Agave angustifolia var. pacifica) Reveal Inbreeding, Few Signs of Cultivation History and Shallow Population Structure. Plants (2022).