Different origins ot Beta proeumbem and B. v:ebbiana, which are \^•lld species of the section Procumbentcs, were investigated b)" means of electropboreticai techniques. The iso2^"me patterns did not sho' "R' any differences between the two species. Assignment of accessions to either one of the two species was not possible using the differences occurring in the banding patterns of some enzyme systems. O'ne can raise the question, therefore, if the classification of B. prociimhens and H. ii'ebbiana into two species is justified.