Isozyme variation in Spanish natural populations of Elytrigia pungens (Pers.) Tutin and E. repens (l.) Nevski

Abstract

Genetic variability in 20 natural populations of the species Elytrigia repens (L.) Nevski, Elytrigia pungens (Pers.) Tutin collected at different geographical places in Spain has been analysed using eight isozyme systems. Analysis of the isoenzymatic patterns indicates inter-, intrapopulational variability in all of the isozyme systems except LAP. The data of intrapopulational variability level, calculated in each population, did not show significant differences in either species. The factorial analysis of correspondence showed a specific distribution of the populations into two groups, based on a series of discriminatory isoenzymatic b, s that belonged to different systems, whose relative importance is discussed. The dendrogram obtained with the upgma method established a specific distribution for the populational subgroups within each species grouping, showed a lower level of interpopulational variability in E. repens than in E. pungens. Our results suggest a significant relationship between isozyme variability, several geographical variables (latitude, longitude, altitude). © 1993 The Genetical Society of Great Britain.