Enzyme analysis of genetic variation and relationships in diploid and polyploid taxa ofGalium (Rubiaceae)

Allozyme variation at 11 loci (with 37 alleles) was studied electrophoretically in seven outbreeding, closely related diploid and tetraploid taxa, seven from sect.Leptogalium and two from sect.Leiogalium. Whereas the sections are clearly distinct by several different alleles, aggregates, species and subspecies differ only in the frequency or presence/absence of common alleles. The resulting dendrogram suggests phylogenetic relationships and is supported by other multidisciplinary evidence. Tetraploids have originated independently in several groups, and there is evidence for tetrasomic inheritance and thus for autopolyploidy in spite of normal meiotic bivalent pairing and partly suspected hybrid origin. Tetraploids differ from related diploids only little in number of alleles and expected heterozygosity within populations, but clearly exhibit higher numbers of genotypes. This often corresponds to their greater morphological variability, increased adaptive flexibility, and better colonizing capacity compared to related diploids.