Biosystematic studies in Allium L. section Cepa

VAN RAAMSDONK, L. W. D. & DE VRIES, T. 1992. Biosystematic studies in Allium L. section Cepa. Principal component analyses and hybrid analyses, according to Wells, using 31 morphological characteristics were used to study the biosystematic relationships between six Allium species of section Cepa and A. roylei of section Rhizirideum. Seventeen interspecific hybrid populations were included. Based on these analyses and on additional information from geography, chromosome banding pattern, DNA amount and seed epidermis texture, the species of Allium section Cepa can be divided into three groups: 1. A. galanthum and A. pskemense , 2. A. cepa, A. oschaninii and A. vavilovii and 3. A. futulosum and A, allaicum. Presumed evolution of both groups 2 and 3 from the basic group 1 is indicated by the development of new morphological characteristics, a change in genome structure and migration.