Biochemical and cytological analyses in natural population of Vicia benghalensis L. Evidence for two distinct groups.

27 accessions of Vicia benghalensis from different geographical origins constitute the pool on which the present study was performed. Genetic variation among the samples was biochemically and cytologically evaluated: seed storage protein profiles and C-banded karyotypes were analysed from single individuals of each accession. SDS-PAGE has shown the possibility to divide the samples into two groups, each characterized by specific protein profiles. The two patterns were indicated as A and B. From individual seed electrophoresis it was ascertained that samples possessing the pattern A showed a low level of individual variation, while those possessing the pattern B were highly polymorphic, thus suggesting differences in the allogamic rate. The cytological analysis demonstrated the presence of two groups of accessions, one being much richer in heterochromatin as evidenced by C-banding (H+) than the other (H-). The analysis of biochemical and karyological data showed a constant association between pattern A and karyotype H- and between pattern B and karyotype H+. On the basis of these results it is proposed to considerV. benghalensis as a highly heteromorphic species, in which two groups may be identified.