Classification and Association Analysis of Gerbera (Gerbera hybrida) Flower Color Traits

Abstract

Floral color plays a crucial role in plant life such as plant-pollinator interactions and modifying the abiotic environment of reproductive structures. In the current study, 123 gerbera accessions were divided into six color groups (white, yellow, orange, pink, red, and purple), based on Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart calibration and colorimeter measurement. Partial least squares discriminant analysis showed that the white group was mainly affected by L* value, a* value, C value, and total anthocyanin contents, while the yellow group was positively correlated with L* value, b* value, and total anthocyanin contents. Similarly, the orange group was mainly affected by b* value and total carotenoid contents, whereas the pink group was positively correlated with L* and h values. Furthermore, the red group was affected by L* value, a* value, C value, and total anthocyanin contents, whilst the purple group was mainly distributed by L* value, a* value, b* value, and total anthocyanin contents. Based on ‘Jin Xiang’ transcriptome data, 14,106 expressed sequence tag (EST)-SSR markers were identified and 48 pairs of primers (19 newly developed primers) were screened. Population genetic structure, neighbor-joining clustering, and principal coordinate analysis showed that 123 gerbera accessions could be divided into two groups. EST-SSR-based association analysis showed that 1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 2, and 1 significant loci were related to L*, a*, b*, C, and h, total carotenoid, and total anthocyanin contents, respectively. These results provide an important reference for flower color classification and genetic improvement of gerbera.

Diversity, classification, and EST‐SSR‐based association analysis of caladium ornamental traits

“…Quantification of phenotypic traits and color classification are critical tools for the precision breeding of ornamental plants. Based on colorimeter and cluster analysis values of L * , a * , b * , C, h ° , 123 germplasm resources in Gerbera hybirda were successfully divided into six color groups: white, pink, yellow, orange, red, and purple (Zhou et al, 2022). In chrysanthemum, 811 accessions were successfully divided into eight color groups (white, yellow, purple, light yellow, dark, red, orange and brown) through colorimeter analysis (Hong et al, 2012).…”

“…Schulz et al (2016) used SSR, AFLP, and SNP to identify significant markers associated with total anthocyanins and carotenoids in rose: 17 significant markers were identified for anthocyanins and 351 for carotenoids. In gerbera, Zhou et al (2022) determined L * , a * , b * , C , h ° , anthocyanin, and carotenoid content of 123 accessions and excavated nine significant loci using EST‐SSR‐based association analysis. In this study, based on caladium transcriptome data, 26 new SSR markers were developed and associated with phenotypic traits.…”

Pigment Diversity in Leaves of Caladium × hortulanum Birdsey and Transcriptomic and Metabolic Comparisons between Red and White Leaves

“…Kamel) [ 23 ], peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) [ 24 ], rose ( Rosa rugosa Thunb.) [ 25 ], Gerbera hybrida [ 20 ], rice ( Oryza sativa L.) [ 26 , 27 , 28 ], and Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt. [ 29 ], through association analysis.…”

Comparison of semi-solid, liquid, and temporary immersion bioreactor systems for efficient plant regeneration of Gerbera jamesonii cv. ‘Shy Pink’

“…Gerberas are popular commercial owers that are grown for their colorful blooms and are popular as potted plants or cut owers in ower markets worldwide. They are known for their good durability, resilience to transportation, and wide range of colors (Zhou et al 2022). Gerbera cultivars are normally propagated by using tissue cultures since seed propagation has shown a high level of heterozygosity (Cardoso and Teixeira da Silva 2013; Lim et al 2023).…”