Abstract
This study was conducted to analyze the morphological characteristics such as flower color, flower type, flower diameter and flower stalk, and the main annual production yield, and genetic similarity of twenty four Gerbera species growing in Korea. Most of flower colors were pink. The numerical order of flower color was pink, orange, red, double-colored, and milk-white. Majority of flower types were sin81e or semidouble flowers. A few species were double flowers. flower diameters were from 7 ㎝ to 12 ㎝, showed significant differences compared to other characteristics. Flower stalks were ranged from 55 ㎝ to 65 ㎝. Only one species was the shortest as 55 ㎝. The others were similar size as about 65 ㎝. Main annual production yields were between 190 and 400 blossoms. Fifty seven reproducible polymorphic bands from eighty primers were used for analyses of genetic similarity. The genetic similarity of 24 collected Gerberas was largely classified into five groups. The average similarity coefficient was 0.72 ranged from 0.50 to 0.90. The highest similarity coefficient was shown between 'Sardana' with red/white flower color and double flower type, and 'Tamara' with orange flower color and double flower type as 0.90.
