ALLOPOLYPLOID VS AUTOPOLYPLOID ORIGINS IN THE GENUS LATHYRUS (LEGUMINOSAE)

Allopolyploid vs. autopolyploid origins of polyploid species of the ge nus Lathyrus have been tested by the C-banding technique and electroph oretical procedures for 11 genetic loci belonging to six isozyme syste ms. Results of both experiments suggest for the polyploid populations of L. palustris and L. pratensis an autopolyploid origin from their re spective diploid counterparts. Nevertheless, L. venosus seems to have originated through allopolyploidy involving two sympatric diploid spec ies, L. ochroleucus and L. palustris.