Integrating Molecular and Phenotypic Approaches to Assess Genetic Diversity in Heliconia Genotypes

The genus Heliconia exhibits remarkable diversity, particularly in the morphological traits of its plants. Notable variations in the color and size of inflorescence bracts, along with differences in flower type and size, are key markers for distinguishing species and genotypes. This extensive morphological diversity, observed at both interspecies and intraspecific levels, prompted the present study, which aims to assess genetic variability among 28 Heliconia genotypes using molecular markers. We employed Sequence-Related Amplified Polymorphism (SRAP) and Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers to analyze genetic diversity. The Jaccard similarity coefficient indicated considerable genetic variation among the genotypes, with pairwise values ranging from 0.302 to 0.943, leading to the clustering of the genotypes into two major groups at a similarity coefficient of 0.59. Furthermore, multifactorial analysis (MFA) was conducted on agro-morphological traits, revealing leaf morphology and plant height as the most significant contributors to phenotypic variation. Hierarchical cluster analysis based on phenotypic data also divided the genotypes into two main clusters, corresponding to the groupings identified by molecular data. These findings highlight the value of integrating molecular and phenotypic analyses to comprehensively evaluate genetic diversity and characterize Heliconia populations. This approach not only aids in the conservation and management of Heliconia genetic resources but also supports future breeding programs aimed at developing improved cultivars with desirable ornamental and commercial traits.