INHERITANCE OF ISOZYME PHENOTYPES OF <em>PINUS</em> <em>MERKUSII</em>

Abstract

Isozyme analysis is a powerful tool for studying the population genetics of forest trees. The identification of isozyme marker gene loci is based on a genetic analysis, i.e. the proof of the genetic control and a determination of the mode of inheritance of trait expressions (isozyme phenotypes). The observation of segregation ratios within the haploid endosperms of putatively heterozygous seed trees and their comparison to the expected 1:1 ratio of the two trait expressions is a simple and straightforward method of genetic analysis for most conifer species. Using this approach, 11 polymorphic isozyme gene loci were identified for Pinus merkusii, a Southeast Asian pine. Another 7 putative gene loci were found to be completely or nearly completely monomorphic for all populations investigated, rendering a genetic analysis impracticable.