Copyright 1998-2022 Yoshiaki Yoneda

The Japanese morning glory contains a number of polymorphic genes--genes that affect the characteristics of multiple organs, such as the cotyledon, the leaf, and the flower. In this case, if a specific characteristic of the cotyledon is observed, the form of the leaf and that of the flower can be predicted. If the Demono (the plant for admiration) in particular can be sorted at the time of a seedling, we can bring up separately a seedling for admiration and a seedling for seed harvest (Parental stock). However, with some genes, such as duplicate genes, we cannot distinguish the Demono seedling from the Parental stock. The main characteristics of a cotyledon, a leaf, and a flower in the Japanese morning glory can be summarized as follows.

Some transposons were found in the duplicate gene by a molecular genetic analysis (Nitasaka, unpublished).

Form of a cotyledon Ipomoea nil	Form of a leaf Ipomoea nil	Form of a flower Ipomoea nil

Click on a figure to see a photograph of the morning glory.

A. Round flower (Ordinary flower)	B. Nanten (or acuminate) flower (ac)	C. Cup (or crepe) flower (cp)	D. Stone pavement (or crisscrossed) flower (cs)
E. Bamboo (or delicate) leaf (dl)	F. Peony (or duplicate) flower (dp)	G. Lion (or feathered) (fe)	H. Maple (m)
I. Star flower (s)	J. Willow (mw)	K. Crest of chrysanthemums (or polymorphic) (py)	L. Maple duplicate (m, dp)
M. Sandy beach (or retracted) (re)	N. Wrinkled flower (wr)	O. Crepe duplicate (cp, dp)	P. Windmill duplicate (or maple cup duplicate) flower (m, cp, dp)
Q. Filamentous willow (mw, dl)	R. Windmil (or maple crepe) flower (m, cp)	S. Feathered duplicate (fe, dp)	T. Large flower (re, dg etc.)

1. Imai,Y. (1930) A genetic monograph on the leaf form of Pharbitis Nil. Zeitschr. f. induk. Abstam. u. Vererb.40:1-107.
2. Yoneda, Y. and Takenaka, Y. (1981) Natural-color illustrated monograph of Japanese morning glory. Hokuryukan.
   
3. Yoneda, Y. (1995) Asagao, a gift from Edo-era: from dreams to science. Syoukabou.