Anthurium andraeanum Linden is a prominent ornamental plant belonging to the family Araceae and is cultivated worldwide. The morphology characteristics are crucial because they significantly impact ornamental values, commercial properties, and the efficiency of space utilization in production. However, only a few related investigations have been conducted in anthurium to date. In this study, an F₁ genetic segregation population containing 160 progenies was generated through hybridization between potted and cut anthurium varieties. Fifteen morphological traits were assessed and revealed substantial levels of genetic variation and widespread positive correlation. Based on specific length amplified fragment (SLAF) sequencing technology, 8171 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers were developed, and the high-density linkage map of 2202.27 cM in length distributed on 15 linkage groups was constructed successfully, with an average distance of 0.30 cM. Using the inclusive composite interval mapping (ICIM) method, 59 QTLs related to 15 key morphological traits were successfully identified, which explained phenotypic variance (PVE) ranging from 6.21% to 17.74%. Thirty-three of those associated with 13 traits were designated as major QTLs with PVE > 10%. These findings offer valuable insights into the genetic basis of quantitative traits and are beneficial for molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS) in anthurium breeding.

Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea glabra) is a perennial woody species belonging to the Nyctaginaceae family, native to South America. It is widely recognized for its brightly colored bracts and strong adaptability, and is widely cultivated as a major ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical regions. However, QTL mapping studies on morphological traits remain limited in the genus Bougainvillea, and the genetic basis underlying its key ornamental traits is still largely unclear. In this study, an F₁ segregating population was constructed using the cultivars ‘Mrs Eva White’ and ‘Formosa’ as parents, and was used for high-density genetic map construction and quantitative trait locus analysis. Fourteen leaf and thorn-related traits were investigated, with coefficients of variation ranging from 8.16% to 64.54%. Based on specific-locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq), a total of 1,133,206 SLAF markers were developed, among which 479,488 were polymorphic. Using the inclusive composite interval mapping (ICIM) algorithm in the GACD 1.2 software, a high-density genetic linkage map was constructed for B. glabra, consisting of 17 linkage groups and 3256 markers. The genetic map spanned 1797.64 cM, with an average marker interval of 0.55 cM. A total of 22 QTLs were detected for the measured leaf and thorn traits, including 16 major QTLs with a PVE ≥ 8%. Collectively, this study identified stable genetic loci for important morphological traits and provides a valuable theoretical foundation for marker-assisted selection and genetic improvement of ornamental traits in Bougainvillea.

Encyclia Hook. is a tropical orchid known for its delightful fragrance and distinctive flower shapes, which have been widely used as superior parents for inter and intrageneric breeding. In this study, karyotype analysis shows that the number of chromosomes in diploid plants of Encyclia is 40, with all species exhibiting mesial and central filamentous chromosomes. The karyotype of diploid plants is primarily 2B. Among the three detected intergeneric hybrids, both Enanthleya Circus Lady ‘Coastal Star’ and Guaricyclia Kyoguchi ‘Fumi’ are triploid, while Robertsara ‘Green Wonder’ is tetraploid. By evaluating various lysates and tissues, a flow cytometry system (FCM) is developed with Galbraith’s buffer (GLB) and tender leaves. By using Dendrobium officinale as an external reference, the genome size of the Encyclia species and its intra and intergeneric hybrids are assessed, which ranges from 1.07 Gb to 3.23 Gb. These results will establish a foundation for high-throughput identification of germplasms, advance crossbreeding efforts, and enhance the understanding of the genome in Encyclia.