Evolution and systematics / Robert S. Wallace and Arthur C. Gibson -- Shoot anatomy and morphology / Teresa Terrazas Salgado and James D. Mauseth -- Root structure and function / Joseph G. Dubrovsky and Gretchen B. North -- Environmental biology / Park S. Nobel and Edward G. Bobich -- Reproductive biology / Eulogio Pimienta-Barrios and Rafael F. del Castillo -- Population and community ecology / Alfonso Valiente-Banuet and Hโector Godโinez-Alvarez -- Consumption of Platyopuntias by wild vertebrates / Eric Mellink and Mโonica E. Riojas-Lโopez -- Biodiversity and conservation / Thomas H. Boyle and Edward F. Anderson -- Mesoamerican domestication and diffusion / Alejandro Casas and Giuseppe Barbera -- Cactus pear fruit production / Paolo Inglese, Filadelfio Basile and Mario Schirra -- Fruits of vine and columnar cacti / Avinoam Nerd, Noemi Tel-Zur and Yosef Mizrahi -- Forage, fodder, and animal nutrition / Ali Nefzaoui and Hichem Ben Salem -- Nopalitos, mucilage, fiber, and cochineal / Carmen Sโaenz-Hernโandez, Joel Corrales-Garcia and Gildardo Aquino-Pโerez -- Insect pests and diseases / Helmuth G. Zimmermann and Giovanni Granata -- Breeding and biotechnology / Brad Chapman ... [et al.]