title: Paternal inheritance of chloroplast DNA in Larix.
abstract: Restriction enzyme analysis was used to determine the inheritance of chloroplast DNA in conifers. The plant material studied included five individual trees of European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) and Japanese larch (Larix leptolepis Sieb. & Zucc.) and six hybrids from controlled crosses between these species. The chloroplast DNA fragment patterns generated by Bam-HI and Bcl-I were species-specific. Paternal inheritance of chloroplast DNA patterns was found in most Larix crosses. One hybrid showed maternal chloroplast DNA patterns. In addition, two other hybrids had mixed Bam-HI patterns suggesting recombination between maternal and paternal chloroplast DNA. The mechanisms favoring paternal inheritance in conifers are not known. Paternal inheritance of chloroplast DNA is suggested it to be a general phenomenon in conifers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Forestry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, S-901 83, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Szmidt
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aldén
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Hällgren