Allozymic Variation and Relationships within Viola sect. Viola (Violaceae) in Iran

Genetic variation and differentiation in taxa of the genus Viola L. sect. Viola, subsections Viola and Rostratae (Kupffer) W. Becker, were studied from natural populations occurring in Iran. Two isoenzyme systems, Phosphoglucoisomerase (PGI) and Aconitase (ACO), encoding four putative loci, were employed to detect interspecific and intraspecific genetic variation. Considering the patterns of isoenzyme variation in the studied taxa, it is evident that V. caspia (Rupr.) Freyn subsp. caspia and V. capia subsp. sylvestroides Marcussen are closely related. The species V. alba Bess. subsp. alba and V. sintenisii W. Becker are isoenzymatically well characterized as distinct genetic entities.