Genetic Structure and Affinity among Xerophyte Taxa of Festuca pseudovina Group (Poaceae)

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) was employed to reveal genetic structure and affinity among four xerophyte taxa belonging to Festuca pseudovina group. Four enzymes (GOT, MDH, GDH and 6PGDH) putatively coded by eight gene loci were scored. Totally twenty-two alleles were found at the eight polymorphic loci in the studied Festuca taxa. Based on mean allelic frequencies, genetic identities were calculated. Analysis of the data demonstrated that the studied taxa were closely related but distinct genetic entities. It could be concluded that the present study is generally in support of the contemporary narrow species concept which is accepted for genus Festuca.