In 1975, we obtained 2 seeds which appeared to be hybrids from a natural cross between D. japonica and D. opposita (cv. Nagaimo). Two seedlings were produced from them by embryo culture. In 1980, chromosome number, sex, structure of flowers, shape of leaves and underground tubers and quality of tubers of the 2 plants were investigated. The results obtained are summarized as follows.1. Both the 2 plants showed the chromosome number of 110 and proved to be hybrids between D. japonica (2n=80) and D. opposita (2n=140).2. The 2 hybrids were both male plants and the morphological structure of flowers was similar to that of D. opposita, but pollen fertility was lower than that of D. opposita.3. The tubers of the hybrids were as long as those of D. opposita, intermediate in thickness between those of the parents and more mucilaginous than those of D. opposita.Thus, a possibility was suggested to get new Dioscoreas with superior characteristics by hybridization between D. japonica and D. opposita.
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Araki et al. (1983) studied this question.