In this study, 13 popula~ions, representing six species/taxa of GuizOlia were compared usingrnisozyme markers. The three enzyme systems, aspartate aminotransferase (AAT, B.C. 2.6.1.1),rnacid phosphatase (ACP, E.C. 3.1.3.2) and phosphoglucose isomerase (PG!, B.C. 5.3.1.9) werernused to study the genetic variation of the cultivated G. abY.I'.I'illica and live related wild taxarn/species belonging to Gu;zo/i(f. Eeven if, most of these taxa share l'0111111011 morphological andrncytological features, the genetic bases of differences distinguishing them have not beenrndetermined. The electrolihoretie study was initiated to assess the degree of divergences orrngenetic identities among these closely related groups of taxa with the possible identitlcation oj'rnprogenitor for the cultivated species, G. abyssinica. All the taxa/speices were analyzed, usingrnhorizontal starch gel electrophoresis. We found three AAT, two ACP and two PGI isozymernzones in all species /taxa except G. arborescens (has foul' PGI isozyme zones) in the studiedrnmaterials and hence a total of eight loci were assessed. Since all species/taxa are assumed to bernoutcrossing, the gcnetic diversity within population is greatcr than among populations. A highrnlevel of genetic variation and low level of genetic differcntiation among populations werernfound in all species /taxa except G. arborescel1.1'. Chelelu is recently identified population andrnshow high genetic diversity than other studied material probably due to its adjacent growth withrnwidespread G. .I'cabra ssp schimperi and other related species may be favoured for itsrnvariability through introgression or due to its unique history. G. abyssinial and Chelelu showedrnlow genetic distance tilan the genetic distance of G. abyssiJlinia and G. scabr" ssp schiJllperi atrngenes specifying the three enzyme systems. The idea of progenitor-derivative species pairsrnbetween C. abysillica and Chelclu is supported by th~ high genetic identity values(l = 0.9305).rnFurthermore, the putative derivative C. abysinica has similar allele with the possible progcnitorrnChelelu population. Most alleles whieh were found in G. abysillica are also found in Chelelu.rnThe aliozyme diversity indicated that Chelelu is the most probable proginetors of G. abysiniCil .rnLikewise, the isozyme study showed that there were close relationships among G. a!Jyssynic(l.rnG.scabra ssp schiJllperi ancl Chelelu population, and between G. scahra ssp scabra alld G.rnvillosa in support of the karyotype and pollen fertility studies in the gellus Gillzolia. Therngenetic marker used in this study also indicated that G. arborescells was the most divergentrntaxa among the studied materials which is in line with the cytological and morphlogical studies