POLYMORPHISM OF 2 DEFENSE-MECHANISMS IN L OTUS-CORNICULATUS L. (FABACEAE) - RELATION WITH ABIOTIC FACTORS

The French populations of L. comiculatus have two defence mechanisms : cyanogenesis and condensed tannins. A sample in plain and mountain po pulations shows that the mean concentration in condensed tannins is ne gatively correlated to percentage of cyanogenic plants at an interpopu lational level. The different environments of populations support the framework part to the nutrient richness of soil in this distribution. The high cyanogenic populations are located on nutrient rich soils and those having a high mean concentration in condensed tannins on nutrie nt poor soils. This distribution of both defence mechanisms seems in a ccord with theory of carbon/nutrient balance.