ENZYME DIFFERENTIATION AND PHYLOGENY IN <i>CLARKIA FRANCISCANA, C. RUBICUNDA</i> AND <i>C. AMOENA</i>

Abstract

When chromosomal reorganization in annual plants results in rapid speciation, the derivative species closely resemble their parents in morphological features and often in ecological tolerances. This suggests that divergence at the genetic level, i.e., the establishment of new alleles, is a much slower process than the erection of reproductive isolating barriers. The extent of genetic divergence at large numbers of loci can be established by gel electrophoresis of enzymes and other proteins. Several species of Clarkia furnish some of the most intensively studied examples of rapid speciation in annual plants In order to investigate the genetic consequences of rapid speciation, electrophoretic studies of enzyme differentiation were initiated in Clarkia franciscana, C. rubicunda and C. amoena.