ELECTROPHORETIC SEED ALBUMIN PATTERNS AND SPECIES RELATIONSHIPS IN VICIA SECT FABA (FABACEAE)

Electrophoretic analysis of seed albumins (PACE) covered 173 accession s representing nine species of Vicia sect. Faba. The number of albumin bands recorded in particular species varied from three in three in V. eristaloides to 23 in V. faba; in total, 38 bands were distinguished in the investigated material. The examined species, except V. eristali oides, showed intraspecific variation with respect to the number and r elative staining intensity of albumin bands; individual variation was especially marked in V. faba and in V: narbonensis. Hierarchical clust ering of the investigated taxa was based on BHATTACHARYYA distances ca lculated from the electrophoretic data. The taxa grouped in three main clusters. Vicia faba and the rather remotely related V. kalakhensis f ormed one cluster. The second cluster was composed of V. narbonensis d istantly related to V. hyaeniscyamus. The third cluster comprised thre e subgroups: 1. V. johannis, V. galilaea and V. serratifolia, 2. V. er istalioides, and 3. V. bithynica. The obtained results are discussed w ith reference to taxonomic relationships in Vicia sect. Faba.