INDEX WORDSEsterase, acid phosphatase, peroxidase, banding pattern, tissue specificity, species relationships.
SUMMARYStarch-gel electrophoresis was used to study esterase, acid phosphatase, and peroxidase isozyme patterns in the primary leaves, stems, and roots of 13 species within the genus Phaseolus (P. acutifolius, P. adenanthus, P. angularis, P. atropurpureus, P. aureus, P. bracteatus, P. calcaratus, P. lathyroides, P. mungo, P. ricciardianus, domestic P. vulgaris, and wild P. coccineus and P. vulgaris). Most species showed unique banding patterns in each isozyme system. However, a close similarity in banding patterns was observed for the domestic P. vulgaris, wild P. vulgaris, and wild P. coccinkus indicating close genetic relationships, possibly through species introgression or common descent.Great differences in isozyme patterns were found for different tissues from the same species in all systems indicating the high tissue specificity of isozymes. Upon compilation of bands from all the species, a very large number of isozymes were obtained in each system or tissue, making the electrophoretic isozyme technique of high potential in studies of isozyme variants in this genus.