CHLOROPLAST DNA INHERITANCE IN THE STELLARIA LONGIPES COMPLEX (CARYOPHYLLACEAE)

Inheritance of chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) was examined in F-1 progenies d erived from three crosses and three corresponding reciprocal crosses b etween Stellaria porsildii and S. longifolia. Chloroplast DNA restrict ion fragments were analyzed using methods of nonradioactive digoxigeni n-11-dUTP labeling and chemiluminescent detection with Lumi-Phos 530. Distinct interspecific restriction fragment polymorphisms were identif ied and used to demonstrate the mode of cpDNA inheritance. Mode of cpD NA inheritance differed among crosses. Two crosses in which S. porsild ii, SP2920-21, was the maternal parent exhibited three different types of plastids, maternal, paternal and biparental, among the F-2 hybrids , suggesting a biparental cpDNA inheritance and plastid sorting-out in Stellaria.