Biosystematic study of annual species of Persicaria from Iran using SDS-PAGE

Persicaria (Polygonaceae), with some 12 species in Iran, has complicated taxonomic history. Seed storage protein patterns provide useful data for distinguishing the closely related species. Banding patterns of seed storage proteins in annual Persicaria species of Iran have been determined using SDS-PAGE. A total of 28 protein bands were observed in the studied species. Some bands are limited to P. mitis, P. minor and P. lapathifolia ssp. nodosa. Results have shown that three P. lapathifolia subspecies in Iran are closely related. A close relationship and high protein similarity were observed between P. minor and P. mitis. There are also hybrid populations nested between P. hydropiper and P. minor. SDS-PAGE results are in conformity with earlier findings