Chloroplast DNA inheritance in theStellaria longipes complex (Caryophyllaceae).

Inheritance of chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) was examined in F1 progenies derived from three crosses and three corresponding reciprocal crosses betweenStellaria porsildii andS. longifolia. Chloroplast DNA restriction fragments were analyzed using methods of nonradioactive digoxigenin-11-dUTP labeling and chemiluminescent detection with Lumi-Phos 530. Distinct interspecific restriction fragment polymorphisms were identified and used to demonstrate the mode of cpDNA inheritance. Mode of cpDNA inheritance differed among crosses. Two crosses in whichS. porsildii, SP2920-21, was the maternal parent exhibited three different types of plastids, maternal, paternal and biparental, among the F1 hybrids, suggesting a biparental cpDNA inheritance and plastid sorting-out inStellaria.