Material for developmental studies
Buds of Disocactus speciosus were collected from wild plants in the Reserva Ecológica del Pedregal de San Ángel at UNAM, Mexico. Buds measuring 1 cm and 10 cm were sampled. The larger buds were just before anthesis. They were compared with D. eichlamii material from a botanical collection. [Rosas-Reinhold et al. 2026, pp.1022–1024]
Tepal cells
Cells of the two species were similar in size in the smallest buds. Later development in D. speciosus involved a longer period of cell proliferation and expansion in the tepals. Inner and outer tepals, epidermal surfaces and tissues in sections were compared separately. [Rosas-Reinhold et al. 2026, pp.1025–1029, Fig.3–4]
Genes associated with growth
Transcriptomes revealed differences in the expression of homologues of genes involved in organ-size regulation. These included BIG BROTHER, BIG PETALp and NAC100. The results identify candidates for functional investigation and remain linked to the two sampled stages of bud development. [Rosas-Reinhold et al. 2026, pp.1029–1033]
Seedling establishment on different substrates
Nava-Bernabé and colleagues compared germination in five cacti on forest soil, lava rock, canopy soil and the bark of Quercus rugosa. Disocactus speciosus seeds came from the study site and were chemically scarified before sowing. In the field experiment, substrate affected germination in this species, whereas seedling mortality patterns did not differ significantly between substrates. Delivering seeds to each surface allowed the stage after seed arrival to be examined. [Nava-Bernabé et al. 2025, pp.635–641, Field experiment and Results]