Within the genus Coch/earia l. sect. Coch/earia three isozyme systems (aspartate aminotransferase, leucine aminopeptidase and phosphoglucomutase) have been analysed at the populational level for eleven species with different ploidy levels. Nine loci complexes were resolved with a total of 33 alleles from 89 populations.In general, polypiaids displayed higher numbers of alleles per species and per population. A notable exception is diploid C.pyrenaiea with as many alleles as some polyploids. Data support: (1) the origin of tetraploid C.officinalis from C.pyrenaiea s.l., particularly from C.aestuaria; (2) the atuopolyploid origin of octoploid C. anglica from C.offieinalis; (3) the allopolyploid origin of hexaploid inland taxa C.p%niea, C.tatrae and C.bavariea via hybridization between C.pyrenaiea and C.officinatis; (4) a putative allopolyploid origin of hexaploid coastal species C.daniea by hybridization between C.pyrenaiea s./. and C. officinalis accompanied by a shift in chromosome complement. A scenario summarizing our present understanding of the evolution within Coch/earia sect. Coch/earia is presented.

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