Effect of allopolyploidy on the activity of selected enzymes in Hibiscus.

Mature seeds of diploid and tetraploid Hibiscus species were analyzed for enzyme activity (alcohol dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, leucine aminopeptidase), total protein content, DNA amount and dry weight. The recently formed tetraploid, H. radiatus, generally had enzyme and protein levels very similar to the sum of its progenitors, while the more ancient species H. acetosella had several lower levels. This difference may reflect the greater amount of time H. acetosella has had to evolve dosage compensations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]