Abstract
The members of the wabisuke group are usualiy placed in Camellia japonica but are distinct from most strains of C.japonica in several morphological characters. Then, they have been sometimes excluded taxonomically out of C.japonica. In the present study, isozyme variations in the wabisuke group were compared in detaii with those of the related species, C.japonica, C.reticulata, C, saluenensis and C. x williamsii, in order to clarify the origin and taxonomic position. In esterase, zymograrn types of the wabisuke group excepting Tarokaja were commonly detected in C.japonica cultivars but not in the C.reticulata, C.saluenelesis and C, x williamsii cultivars. Tarokaja showed a band which was rarely observed in C.japonica, but frequently observed in C.reticulata and C. saluenensis. In acid phosphatase, all of the six bands detected in the wabisuke group were also observed in C.japonica, and three of them were observed only in the wabisuke group and C.japonica. Two cultivars including Tarokaja of the wabisuke group showed zymogram types not detected in the other species. Among seven wabisuke cultivars, four cultivars showed zymogram types observed in C.japonica but not in the other species. These results indicate that the isozyme variation of the wabisuke group excepting Tarokaja is more similar to that of C.japonica than those of the other species. Therefore. it is considered that most wabisuke cultivars have originated and are placed in C.japonica. However, only Tarokaja may have been derived from an interspecific cross between C.japonica and other species.
