ENZYMATIC VARIABILITY IN SOME NATURAL-POP ULATIONS OF MEDICAGO-CILIARIS (L) KROCK AND MEDICAGO-INTERTEXTA (L) MILL

Six enzyme systems were analysed using horizontal starch gel electroph oresis in 11 populations, originating from North Tunisia (8 population s of Medicago ciliaris and 3 populations of M, intertexta). The polymo rphism index and the Nei's genetic distances were showed higher levels of genetic variability within and between populations in M. intertext a then M. ciliaris. The cluster analysis, based on Nei's genetic dista nces, was revealed a net separation between the two taxa. However, one population of M, intertexta, originating from Sedjnane (Sed), seems t o present enzymatic likeness with M. ciliaris. This result, obtained a s morphological analysis, is in favour of introgressive hybridization possibility between M, intertexta and M, ciliaris.