Abstract: By investigating the variance of Azolla leaf colour of F1 generation obtained from negative and positive crossing of Azolla between two species (Azolla filiculoides × A. microphylla, A. filiculoides × A. mescicana) and two subgenus (A. filiculoides × A. imbricata), it was revealed that the albinism of the hybrid F1 generation was variation resulting from maternal cytoplasmic inheritance, when A. filiculoide was used as female parent. Electron microscopic observation demonstrated abnormal development of plastid in the albino sporeling. The cell of light green seedling contained both normal and abnormal plastid. Both were probably related to variation in the plastid genotype. Significant difference occurred in the degree and freguency of albinism from various crossing forms, and such change had its vegularity in accord with the variation of the nuclear genotype. The results speculated that albinism were also closely related to the nuclear genotype.

Key words: Azolla, Cytoplasmic inheritance, Plastid, Variation