Polymorphism of seed proteins and enzymes in Adonis vernalis L Polymorphism of seed proteins and enzymes in Adonis vernalis L. and Adonis pyrenaica DC. (Ranunculaceae) Tsveta Angelova1, Tsvetana Stoilova1, Antonina Vitkova2, Eva Thorvaldsdottir3 Institute of Genetics (1), BAS, 1113 Sofia-Bulgaria; Institute of Botany (2), BAS, 1113 Sofia-Bulgaria; Reykjavik Botanic Garden (3), Skulagata 19, 101 Reykjavik-Iceland The object of the investigation are two species of the genus Adonis with different geographic origin-Adonis vernalis L.and Adonis pyrenaica DC. Adonis vernalis is a valuable medicinal plant used in the pharmaceutical industry. Its efficiency is due to the biologically active substances such as glycosides and flavonoids localized in the vegetative organs and roots. The species was placed under a special regime of managing in Bulgaria and included in CITES. This poses a problem for obtaining of plant material for the pharmaceutical industry. Adonis pyrenaica DC. is an endemic species distributed in Pyrenees and Cordillera Cantbrica; one station in Alpes Maritimes; on the territory of France (Gallia), with the Channel Islands (Oles Normandes) and Monaco; excluding Corse, and Spain (Hispania) with Gibraltar and Andora; excluding Islas Baleares. Adonis vernalis L. Adonis pyrenaica DC. To evaluate the genetic differences between Adonis vernalis species with different origin and Adonis pyrenaica DC. by analyzing the electrophoretic patterns of the seed proteins and four enzyme systems (esterase, glutamate oxalacetate transaminase, acidic phosphatase, alcohol dehydrogenase). Investigated species: 1. Adonis vernalis L.-Bulgaria (Lozenska Mountain); 2. Adonis vernalis L.-Croatia (natural population); 3. Adonis pyrenaica DC.-France (collection). Seed samples were investigated. Methods: polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was applied. In this study the electrophoretic patterns of the native and reduced seed proteins and four enzyme systems are investigated for species differentiation. Native proteins Cathode zone A major component in Adonis vernalis from Bulgaria was expressed lacking in Adonis vernalis from Croatia. The same component was present in Adonis pyrenaica. Anode zone Qualitative variations between the different origins of Adonis vernalis were established. Quantitative differences between Adonis pyrenaica and Adonis vernalis were observed. Enzymes Qualitative variations in the ADH, GOT and ACPH isoenzymes spectra of Adonis vernalis were not found. EST, GOT Qualitative differences between Adonis vernalis and Adonis pyrenaica were detected. EST Quantitative differences between various origins of Adonis vernalis (Bulgaria, Croatia) were observed. Native proteins in seeds of: 1-Adonis vernalis L. (Bulgaria), 1a-Adonis vernalis L. (Croatia), 2-Adonis pyrenaica DC.(France); a-major component Reduced proteins Qualitative variations between the different origins of Adonis vernalis were detected. Adonis pyrenaica exhibits qualitative differences with Adonis vernalis. Reduced proteins in seeds of: 1-Adonis vernalis L. (Bulgaria), 1a-Adonis vernalis L. (Croatia), 2-Adonis pyrenaica DC. (France). Using biochemical markers data were obtained, pointing to the polymorphism of Adonis vernalis as dependent on the plant origin. Variability between Adonis vernalis and Adonis pyrenaica was also established.