ABSTRACT
In Mexico, the utilization of native heliconias germplasm for preservation and genetic improvement purposes, has been
limited partly because of the unawareness between their population similarities
and differences, and because of the degree of genetic divergence that exists
among the interspecific and intraspecific ecotypes originated from different
regions of the humid tropics. The objective of the present study was to morphological characterization wild species of the genus Heliconias in Mexico through some qualitative and quantitative morphological
descriptors. Fifty-five qualitative and quantitative morphological characters
were studied in 25 accessions from 11 native species. Characters of plant,
leaf, inflorescence, flower, fruit, and seed were taken into account. Data was
analyzed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster
Analysis. Two analyses were carried out: the first one was for the 25
accessions that included characters of flower (55 variables), whereas the
second was for only 19 accessions (66 variables) concluded until seed. The
first six components explained a 69.4% of the total variation based on PCA. The
variables which contributed most significantly were: leaf length (p <
0.001), limb width (p < 0.001), limb's petiole length (p < 0.001),
pseudostem thickness (p < 0.05)/width at 60 cm (p < 0.05), rachis width (p < 0.05)/thickness
(p < 0.001), second bract width (p < 0.001), growth (p < 0.001) and
type of inflorescence (p < 0.05), petiole (p < 0.05) and peduncle length
(p < 0.05), rachis color (p < 0.05), and wax in limb (p < 0.05) and in
pseudostem (p < 0.05). Thirty-eight descriptors were suggested to
differentiate wild species of heliconias in Mexico.
Share and Cite:
Avendaño-Arrazate, C. , Arrazate-Argueta, J. , Ortíz-Curiel, S. , Moreno-Pérez, E. , Iracheta-Donjuan, L. , Reyes-López, D. , Grajales-Solís, M. , Martínez-Bolaños, M. and Cortés-Cruz, M. (2017) Morphological Characterization in Wild Species of
Heliconias (
Heliconia spp) in Mexico.
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
8, 1210-1223. doi:
10.4236/ajps.2017.86080.