6533b7d0fe1ef96bd125b664

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Allozymic variation and divergence in three species of Antirrhinum L. (Scrophulariaceae-Antirrhineae)

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Abstract An allozymic study of three wild species of Antirrhinum L.—A. lopesianum RothmA. mollissimum Rothm. and A. microphyllum Rothm.—is described. All are members of subsectionKickxiella Rothmand are narrow-range endemics of the Iberian Peninsula. The variability of the different loci, as well as the number and mobility of the alleles, differ among the three species, a demonstration of the usefulness of allozymes for the systematics of the genus. The finding of alleles unique to each species indicates high divergence among species suggesting ancient diversification, and supports the hypothesis of a geographical model of speciation. All three species show high levels of within-species variability, mainly partitioned within populations, while between populations genetic differentiation is low. Correlations between population size, sample size and genetic variability, and the usefulness of allozymic data for conservation purposes, are discussed.