AN ESTIMATE OF THE NUMBER OF ALLELES AT THE LOCI FOR HETEROTHALLISM IN A LOCAL CONCENTRATION OF POLYPORUS OBTUSUS BERK.

Abstract

On the basis of a sample of 24 fruit bodies of Polyporus obtusus Berk. collected at Chalk River, Ont., in which there were found to be 39 alleles at each of the loci for heterothallism, it was estimated that the number of alleles at each of these loci in the local concentration, of the fungus occurring there is 112. This agrees closely with previous estimates of the total number of alleles at these loci for the Hymenomycetes in general, and is interpreted as evidence that the local concentration of the fungus at Chalk River is not an isolated occurrence as hitherto supposed. This view is further supported by collections of the fungus in several widely scattered areas in Ontario since the initiation of this study.