Chimerism of Kobayashi Mikan with Special Reference to Its Epidermal System Observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy

Abstract

The present experiment was aimed at confirming the generally recognized assumption on the chimerism of ‘Kobayashi Mikan’. This cultivar is the so-called synthetic chimera that has arisen in grafting at the junction of satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.) scion and natsudaidai (Citrus natsudaidai Hayata) stock. The external features of leaves, floral parts, and fruits were examined carefully by scanning electron microscopy. From the viewpoint of chimerism, the results obtained in a taxonomic comparison of satsuma, natsudaidai, and ‘Kobayashi Mikan’ are summarized as follows: