ANTIGENIC RELATIONS AMONG SPECIES OF THE GENUS ULEX L (FABOIDEAE-GENETEAE) DETERMINED BY CROSSED IMMUNOELECTROPHORESIS AND IMMUNOBLOTTING

Ulex L. is a western European genus that has diversified from its cent re in Portugal into two groups: (1) atlantic-subatlantic species and ( 2) mediterranean-submediterranean ones. Like most other Genisteae, the genus is characterized by high levels of polyploidy with di-, tetra- and hexaploid species. Immunological cross-reactions among ten specifi c and infraspecific taxa were assessed by using crossed immunoelectrop horesis and immunoblotting. They show the diploid species are closely related, and suggest that U.micranthus provides an evolutionary link b etween the atlantic group and the mediterranean group.