Inheritance of mucilage canals in laminaria (Section simplices) in eastern canada

Abstract

Two experiments have been carried out to test the suitability of the occurrence of mucilage canals as a criterion for species or ecotype definition in the non-digitate section of the genus Laminaria. A matrix of crossability tests shows complete interfertility between all mucilage canal types, fertile Fi hybrids being produced in all cases. Quantitative genetic analysis reveals a large environmental component in the phenotypic variance of degree of mucilage canal development. Only plants from Nova Scotia bred true with respect to mucilage canals. This characteristic is therefore considered generally unsuitable for taxonomic and biological species determination, though there may be evidence for intraspecific genotypic differentiation of Nova Scotian populations. © 1975 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.