Cluster analysis of floral traits in Asian Coelogyne spp. for germplasm selection and breeding strategy

¹ Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia
² Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Univeritas Tidar, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

Coelogyne spp. are orchids with high aesthetic and exclusive value. However, environmental degradation and climate change threaten its populations in their natural habitats. A total of 12 Coelogyne orchid species from Asia were evaluated based on 24 qualitative floral traits to assess variation and determine potential parent combinations for hybridization. The analysis revealed that 87.5% of the characters were variable, with an average Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H') of 0.905, indicating overall high of floral traits variation. Floral traits, particularly color, labellum, and floral scent, showed the highest variation and contributed significantly to species differentiation. Cluster analysis using the UPGMA method grouped the species into two main clusters with nine sub-clusters, highlighting distinct patterns of similarity and divergence. The similarity coefficient ranged from 0.29 to 0.75, where the lowest value indicated substantial divergence (e.g., C. pandurata and C. ovalis), while the highest value reflected close similarity (e.g., C. parishii and C. celebensis). Species with high similarity are predicted to have higher hybridization success but limited phenotypic variation, whereas those with low similarity offer greater potential for generating novel traits despite lower compatibility. These findings provide a objective quantitative basis for selecting parent combinations in Coelogyne breeding and conservation.