RFLP-ANALYSIS OF HYPERICUM-PERFORATUM L SOMACLONES AND THEIR PROGENIES

Three adjacent EcoRI fragments of the rDNA unit from Lycopersicon escu ientum, eleven anonymous genomic and two anonymous cDNA clones from Br assica napus and three restriction endonucleases: BamHI, EcoRI and Eco RV were used for RFLP analysis of the genome of Hypericum perforatum L . A polymorphic band identified with EcoRI and two rDNA probes in five somaclones originated from the same genotype was detected in all prog enies of two somaclones indicating the inheritance of the molecular ch anges. rDNA unit heterogeneity represented by two types of RFLP patter n revealed among somaclones and seed-derived control plants using EcoR V and two rDNA probes may indicate an alloploid origin of Hypericum pe rforatum. The occurrence of the identical RFLP patterns in some R-0 so maclones and seed-derived plants and their progenies may be related to the apomictic mode of reproduction which is assumed to be prevalent i n Hypericum perforatum. The differences in RFLP patterns of progenies when compared with the maternal plants (1 out of 10 progenies of one c ontrol plant and 1 out of 8 progenies of one somaclone) may indicate t hat some progenies have originated through sexual recombination.