INHERITANCE OF ISOENZYME VARIANTS IN SEED TISSUES OF BALSAM FIR (ABIES-BALSAMEA)

Evidence for the inheritance of isozymes in megagametophyte (1N) and embryo (2N) seed tissues of balsam fir (A. balsamea (Linn.) Mill.) is presented. Segregation of isozymes in megagametophytes of heterozygous mother trees and comparison of banding patterns with those of other conifers indicate that a minimum of 14 loci code isozymes in the enzyme systems studied. Isozymes coded by 13 of these loci are detectable in both seed tissues; 1 locus is apparently active only in haploid tissue. Two loci segregation data were available for 20 of the 28 possible pairwise combinations of 8 polymorphic loci. Chi-square tests of independence revealed that 5 of these pairs are linked. Genes similar to those in 2 of the pairs are linked in other Pinus species.