CYTOGENETIC AND GENETIC-RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN POPULATIONS OF AEGILOPSVENTRICOSA TAUSCH

Five samples of Aegilops ventricosa (2n = 4x = 28, genome formula DDNN ) from different geographical origins, were crossed in a diallelic sch eme. Metaphase I chromosome pairing of the hybrids, accounting for all the possible genetic combinations, was analysed. Only bivalents were formed in some hybrids, while multivalents were scored in other ones. Seed storage proteins, gliadins and albumins, were also analysed by me ans of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Based on the presence of mu ltivalents in hybrids, and on the differences in seed protein profiles , the samples could be grouped into two clusters. Meiosis was regular in hybrids obtained within samples of the same group, while multivalen ts were present in hybrids involving a sample of one group and one of the other. The evolutionary trends in Ae. ventricosa are discussed.