Variability of isozyme pattern, chromosome number, and latex colour and components in the closely related Papaver duhium L. and P. lecoqii Lamotte in C Europe

Summary The variability of nine different isozyme systems, chromosome number, colour of fresh and dried latex and presence or absence of meconic acid was investigated in altogether 45 populations of Papaver dubium and P. lecoqii mainly from C Europe. It was found that P. dubium is hexaploid with 2n = 42 chromosomes, has brown dried latex, and contains meconic acid. P. lecoqii is tetraploid with 2n = 28 chromosomes, has red dried latex, and lacks meconic acid. The two taxa can also be distinguished by differences in three of the nine isozymes analysed, and are almost completely monomorphic for their respective isozyme pattern. It is concluded that the two taxa, which cannot be reliably disti…