(135) Study on the Seed Progeny of Echinacea purpurea Mench.

Abstract

<jats:p>Common coneflower (<jats:italic>Echinacea purpurea</jats:italic>) is used as medicinal, cutflower, or ornamental plant. There is significant diversity and chemotypes within the species. Flower morphology and shape has been shown to affect fertilization and, subsequently, seed formation and yields, and seed germination. The aim of this study was to describe morphological and biological characteristics of locally available <jats:italic>Echninacea</jats:italic> seed progeny and evaluate segregating populations in F<jats:sub>1</jats:sub>. Overall, the F<jats:sub>1</jats:sub> seed progeny of <jats:italic>Echinacea purpurea</jats:italic> was clustered into three different groups with distinct morphological characteristics and ornamental qualities: 1) plants having tubular type of flowers, 38.9% of all plants; 2) plants with flat flowers; and 3) plants with cone-shaped flowers. The latter is the most commonly found type. We found that 11% of all <jats:italic>Echninacea</jats:italic> plants would fail to have seed set. However, 55% of <jats:italic>Echninacea</jats:italic> plants with tubular (spherical) flowers would be without seeds. Of the plants with tubular flowers, 40% were with tubules longer than 10 mm. The plants from the F<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> and F<jats:sub>3</jats:sub> progenies were with very low seed productivity, with greater variation of morphological characteristics, and some of them with characteristics not found in F<jats:sub>1</jats:sub>. Several promising forms with potentially high ornamental value were identified.</jats:p>