Morphological characterisation and assessment of phenotypic diversity of Abelmoschus sagittifolius (Kurz) Merr. germplasm in Vietnam
Keywords:
morphological features, Bo Chinh ginseng, phenotypic analysis, Pink Swamp Mallow, UPGMA methodAbstract
The collection, conservation, and characterization of plant germplasm resources are fundamental steps for breeding programs and the development of high-yielding and high-quality cultivation areas. In the present study, twenty accessions of Abelmoschus sagittifolius (Kurz) Merr. collected from nine provinces and one city of Vietnam (nine administrative units after consolidation) were evaluated based on phenotypic traits to assess morphological variation and phenetic relationships among accessions. A total of 26 phenotypic characters related to growth habit, stem, leaf, floral, fruit, and seed morphology were recorded using standardized morphological descriptors. Phenetic relationships were analyzed using similarity coefficients and cluster analysis based on the UPGMA method. The twenty accessions were classified into four major phenetic groups at a similarity coefficient of 38%, with similarity values ranging from 0.12 to 0.73. No clear correlation was observed between phenetic groupings and ecological distribution. Notably, accession BC13, collected from Phu Yen Province, exhibited marked morphological divergence from the remaining accessions, particularly in floral characters. The results provide useful baseline information for taxonomic studies, germplasm conservation, and future breeding and utilization of A. sagittifolius in Vietnam.
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