INTRAPOPULATION AND INDIVIDUAL POLYMORPHISM OF HETEROCHROMATIN SEGMENTS IN TRILLIUM CAMSCHATCENSE KER-GAWL

The present work reports the study of the topography and the size of t he heterochromatin segments (H-segments) in the chromosomes of the pla nt of Trillium camschatcense Ker.-Gawl. from a Kamchatka population wi th the help, of a special chromosome analysis, computer program. The s taining techniques used are C-banding and fluorochroming with Hoechst 33258. A high level of hereditary polymorphism as well as somatic chro mosome aberrations appearing de novo has been found. The heterochromat in of Trillium camschatcense appears to be of a polymorphic labile sys tem creating a wide variation spectrum within the population. It is po stulated that it could be the onset of divergences into separate forms and the subsequent creation of new species.