Are Beta procumbens Chr. Sm. and Beta webbiana Moq. Different Species?

Different Origins of Beta procumbens and B. webbiana, which are wild species of the section Procumbentes, were investigated by means of electrophoretical techniques. The isozyme patterns did not show 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. One can raise the question, therefore if the classification of B. procumbens and B. Webbiana into two species is justified.