Multivariate Assessment of Genetic Relationships between Two Streptocarpus Cultivars and Their F₁ Progenies Using Morphological Characteristics and SCoT Molecular Markers

Streptocarpus is a very popular houseplant with colorful flowers, and has thus piqued the curiosity of plant enthusiasts and breeders. In this study, "Natalie" and "Bristol's Gum Drop" were artificially hybridized to study the influence of the parental reciprocal crosses (P1xP2 and P2xP1) on vegetative and generative morphological traits of F-1 progeny. Mean comparisons for morphological characters of parents and F-1 plants from both crosses revealed that F-1 plants were able to express hybrid vigor for several valuable morphological characteristics. Pearson correlations showed both significant negative and positive correlations between morphological traits of F-1 plants from P1xP2 cross, while in the case of P2xP1 no significant negative correlations were observed (p < 0.05). The Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) genetic profiles of the F-1 plants with the identifiers P1xP2.19 and P1xP2.35 were remarkably similar, and they grouped with the maternal parent in a small group, supporting the findings of clustering based on morphological data. The parental combination P2xP1 revealed the presence of closely related progenies to the paternal parent, namely P2xP1.16 and P2xP1.5. Two F-1 plants named P1xP2.33 and P2xP1.21 were selected based on their phenotypic characteristics and SCoT molecular fingerprinting. These selected genotypes will be tested in our future breeding programs with the aim to create and promote new valuable Streptocarpus cultivars.