On the ecogenetics of Stellaria media (L.) Vill. and Stellaria pallida (Dum.) pire from abandoned arable field.

Abstract

Isoenzyme analyses were carried out on the hypotetraploid Stellaria media and the diploid Stellaria pallida occurring on abandoned sandy fields in the coastal dunes of the Netherlands. Amylase isoenzymes in germinating seeds of Stellaria media showed a striking intrapopulational variability, which is in accordance with the germination behaviour of the different subpopulations. In contrast to these findings no intrapopulational variation nor developmental change in isoenzyme pattern could be detected on basis of 14 other analysed leaf enzymes. For five enzymes there was a difference in isoenzyme pattern between the species Stellaria media and Stellaria pallida. Of these five enzymes two showed an interpopulational variation in Stellaria media. The fact that there was almost no variability of the isoenzyme pattern in Stellaria pallida could be explained by the permanent autogamous (cleistogamous) state of the species. Effects of polyploidy on the isoenzyme pattern and its activity could not be demonstrated. Consequences of the extreme difference between the monomorphic pattern of the leaf enzymes as opposed to the polymorphism of the amylase are discussed in view of the difference in germination ecology and lifecycle strategy of Stellaria media subpopulations.