GENETIC AND PHENOTYPIC DIVERSITY WITHIN SPECIES AND GROUPS OF AN IMPATIENS GERMPLASM COLLECTION

Since the introduction of New Guinea impatiens in 1980 the genus Impatiens has remained the number one selling bedding plant in the U.S. However, basic information concerning the genus is lacking. This study was undertaken to estimate genetic and phenotypic diversity within species and groups of an Impatiens germplasm collection representing seven countries. It includes plants from the 1970 plant expedition co-sponsored by USDA-ARS and the Longwood Foundation (Kennett Square, PA); donations from the Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew, England); and ovule cultured interspecific hybrids created by Dr. Toru Arisumi (USDA, Beltsville, MD). The collection was grown in a common environment and characterized for 31 qualitative and quantitative morphological traits, and electrophoretically characterized for several enzymes using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Evidence concerning putative interspecific hybrids and relationships among Impatiens groups based on morphological and electrophoretic characterization and diversity indices will be presented. Isozyme patterns lending support to hypotheses of center of origin, migration and evolution of Impatiens will also be discussed.