CYTOGENETIC VARIATION IN THE BRITISH FLORA: ORIGINS AND SIGNIFICANCE.

Abstract

Cytogenetic variation in the British flora is discussed in relation to the taxonomy and evolution of species and to their distribution and past history. In polyploids there may be two or more cytotypes in Britain with different distributions and ecology, e.g. Empetrum nigrum and Hippocrepis comosa; alternatively only one cytotype is present in Britain, but it forms part of a wider polyploid pattern, the study of which may clarify past patterns of migration, e.g. Potentilla fruticosa and Sisyrinchium bermudiana. The study of polyploids may also have taxonomic significance, e.g. Cochlearia, Symphytum and Mentha. In some situations gene flow between polyploid levels takes place and may be in both directions. In other polyploid groups sexually sterile cytotypes may be maintained by vegetative reproduction, e.g. Ranunculus ficaria and Holcus mollis or by gametophytic apomixis. In some cases a polyploid and aneuploid series may be maintained in which all the components are fertile; this situation is discussed in relation to the genus Erophila. There has been considerable emphasis in the past in attempting to identify the genomic ancestors of allopolyploids; two British species, Spartina anglica and Senecio cambrensis are among the few examples of recent allopolyploids of known origin; in both cases formation has depended on the establishment of an introduced species as one parent. The significance of B chromosomes is discussed; although a range of British species contain B chromosomes it has only been possible to investigate their adaptive significance in one case. Interchanges exist in British species either in the heterozygous form, e.g. in Alopecurus species, where they can be identified by their meiotic consequences, or in the homozygous form, e.g. Epilobium sect. Epilobium species, where they can be identified by meiotic analysis of hybrids. The use of modern cytogenetic techniques including chromosome banding and in-situ hybridization and the investigation of characteristics such as infra-species variation in DNA amounts are discussed in relation to future cytogenetic investigations of the British flora.