Positive universal classes in locally finite varieties (Q616122)

Consider a fixed type of algebras. A Q-independent sequence of algebras is a sequence\break \(A_1,A_2,A_3,\dots\) of algebras such that, for arbitrary \(i\neq j\), \(A_i\) is not a homomorphic image of a subalgebra of \(A_j\). It is proved that locally finite varieties having a Q-independent sequence have continuum many subclasses defined by universally quantified disjunctions of equations. Especially, this is true for the variety of semilattices. Moreover, it is proved that if, in addition, the variety is congruence-distributive and has a Q-independent sequence of subdirectly irreducible algebras, then it has continuum many subvarieties. Especially, this is true for the variety generated by planar modular lattices.