Genetic and morphological variability among clones of Euglena pisciformis based on RAPD and biometric analysis

The present investigation shows a broad inter and intraspecific variation of genotypes in the common species Euglena piscifotmis, a representative asexually reproducing (uniparental) organism. Analyses of morphological characters and of products of Randomly Amplified Polyrnorphic DNA S,APD) using 10 primers indicate the coexistence of genetically diverse clones in natural populations of Euglena pisciformis. The genetic differences are not directly reflected in cell morphology and are independent ofgeographic distribution. The analysis strongly supports the position of PnrNosrłBrlt (1953), Porova (196ó) and other investigators who suggest that a systematic ręvision ofthe group Euglena pisciformis (including all species, varieties and forms of similar size and with the samę chloroplast morphology) is necessary