AGRONOMIC TRAITS OF HELICONIA FOR CUT FLOWERS USE AND MOLECULAR MARKERS

The demand for heliconia as cut flower is increasing in many countries around
the world.
In Pernambuco, Brazilian state, heliconia genotypes are being evaluated for
agronomic traits and molecular markers.
The objective of this study is to report these
aspects to be used in breeding programs in the selection of heliconia as cut flower.
The
heliconia genotypes characters evaluated were: rhizome viability 3 months after
planting; number of shoots per clump; clump area; growth habit; internal shoots;
flowering period; flowering cycle; number of flowering stem per clump; shoots
develop in inflorescences; height, diameter and weight of flowering stem; inflorescence
type, width and length; rachis length and diameter; hair and wax presence in the
inflorescence; bracts arrangement, color, firmness and depth; flowers number; insects
and odors occurrence; post-harvest durability.
The molecular markers analyses were
isoenzyme from 19 genotypes, and RAPD analysis from 18 genotypes.
It is possible to
suggest that the agronomics traits for heliconia as a cut flower are: production during
the whole year; short flowering cycle; light flowering stems; flowering stem longer
than 80 cm with thick stem; bracts arrangement easy for handling and packing;
bracts less depth and with few flowers inside; and post-harvesting durability longer
than ten days.
The polymorphism observed demonstrates the isoenzymes potential as
genetic-biochemical markers in heliconia and results observed with the RAPD
markers are considered consistent, without any environmental interference, which is
common in phenotypic data, in addition to provide a broad genome coverage.
Such
information will be important to the selection of genotypes and serves as guidelines for
studies on heliconia breeding programs.

XXVIII International Horticultural Congress on Science and Horticulture for People (IHC2010): International Symposium on Advances in Ornamentals, Landscape and Urban Horticulture

V. Loges, C.E.F. de Castro, W.N.R. Guimarães, A.S. Costa, T.L. de A. Lima, K.P. Leite

tropical cut flowers, breeding, characterization, molecular markers

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2012.937.65