PATTERNS OF CLONAL VARIATION IN SKELETON WEED (CHONDRILLA-JUNCEA), ANAPOMICTIC SPECIES

Isozymes were used to discriminate clones of the apomictic plant, Chon drilla juncea L. (Asteraceae), a Eurasian species that has become a ma jor weed of cereal cultivations in Australia. The sample that was scre ened consisted of the progeny of single plants from each of 123 sites in central Turkey. When used in combination, six polymorphic enzyme sy stems separated 91 distinct clones. Seventy-four percent of samples de tected unique clones, none of these being widespread. Chromosome count s established that these clones are triploid. This pattern contrasted with that found in a survey of 23 populations in southeastern Australi a. Apart from the narrow-leaf rust susceptible clone, the survey found two additional multilocus genotypes only, both of which are immune to the introduced strain of the