ISOZYME POLYMORPHISM IN NATURAL POPULATIONS OF A LIVERWORT, PLAGIOCHILA ASPLENIOIDES

M. Krzakowa ¹ and J. Szweykowski ¹

¹ Department of Genetics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland

Assays of five Polish populations of Plagiochila asplenioides (Hepaticae, Plagiochilaceae) for peroxidase isozymes revealed three bands differing in electrophoretic mobility. The phenotypes observed appear to be governed by three loci; each locus has two alleles, one of which produces a band and the other no band, i.e., the second allele is silent, or null. Marked variability in enzyme phenotypes was found both within and between populations. The evolutionary implications of this variability are discussed in terms of the persistent haplophase and ephemeral diplophase of this organism.