ANALYSIS OF SPECIES RELATIONSHIPS IN AVENAE BY THIN-LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY AND DISC ELECTROPHORESIS

Abstract

Thin-layer chromatographic studies on flavonoids, and disc electrophoretic studies on proteins and esterase isoenzymes were conducted with Avena to determine species relationships and genome homologies. Distinctness of Avena ventricosa and A. pilosa was observed in comparison to other diploid species. Closeness of the diploid species of the A. strigosa group (including hirtula and wiestii) was evident from the similarity of their protein and esterase spectra. The tetraploid species, A. barbata and A. abyssinica, were found to be very close to A. hirtula and A. strigosa, respectively, by TLC studies. Proteins and esterases also showed that the tetraploid species are very close to the A. strigosa group of diploid species. The contribution of a genome by the A. strigosa group to the tetraploids and hexaploids was confirmed. The hexaploids showed different protein and esterase patterns. The involvement of A. ventricosa as the C genome donor to the hexaploids was shown by the protein and esterase spectra. A few extra protein bands observed may have been from the D genome.