Integrative Analysis of Agro-Morphological Traits and Genetic Diversity in Gladiolus (Gladiolus hybridus L.) Using SRAP Markers

Gladiolus (Gladiolus hybridus L.) is a popular ornamental crop, known for its vibrant flowers and extensive diversity in color, size, shape, and blooming characteristics—traits that distinguish its species and genotypes. This study aimed to assess genetic diversity and agro-morphological traits in 30 Gladiolus genotypes, using Sequence-Related Amplified Polymorphism (SRAP) markers and multifactorial analysis (MFA). Eight SRAP primer combinations generated 84% polymorphic loci, with an average of 7.875 alleles per primer pair, indicating substantial genetic variability. Cluster analysis grouped the genotypes into distinct clusters, revealing genetic relationships within the germplasm. Agro-morphological traits such as plant height, spike length, flower diameter, and florets per spike showed significant variation across genotypes. MFA highlighted the contributions of these traits to overall diversity, providing insights into trait patterns and enabling the selection of promising parental lines for breeding. The integrative approach of combining genetic and agro-morphological data in this study advances our understanding of Gladiolus diversity, supporting targeted breeding programs aimed at cultivar improvement, conservation, and the development of superior ornamental genotypes for hybridization efforts.