MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA VARIATION AND CROSSABILITY OF LEEK (ALLIUM-PORRUM) AND ITS WILD RELATIVES FROM THE ALLIUM-AMPELOPRASUM COMPLEX

Mitochondrial (mt) DNA variation in the cultigens leek, kurrat and pre i-anak is limited compared to that of their wild relatives in the Alli um ampeloprasum complex. The phylogenetic relationships among these cu ltigens and their wild relatives is quite close, with the majority of the species clustering within one mitochondrial clade. The presence in leek of an extra-mitochondrial genetic element was noted. Analysis of crossability showed that all species were interfertile with leek. It is suggested that the genetic variation present within the A. ampelopr asum complex could be exploited in order to broaden the genetic basis of leek.