MORPHOLOGICAL AND ENZYME VARIATION IN CHARA-ASPERA AND C-GALIOIDES (CHAROPHYCEAE) IN THE CAMARGUE

The systematics of Chara aspera Detharding ex Willdenow and C. galioid es de Candolle remains not clear. In the Camargue, their identificatio n is based only on the diameter of the antheridia, which is larger for Chara galioides. In this study we have examined morphological and enz yme variation in the two species and test the validity of the above mo rphological criteria. Six populations from oligo- haline temporary mar shes have been studied. The morphology and the enzyme genotype of each individual for 4 enzyme loci, acid phosphatase, phosphoglucomutase, p hosphogluco-isomerase and isocitrate-dehydrogenase, have been compared . Two taxa, which occasionally occur in sympatry, could be distinguish ed on the basis of antheridia diameter and enzyme genotype. Some indiv iduals, which belong to neither taxon may be the product of partial ge netic mixing between them.