FLORAL VARIABILITY OF MARIGOLD

Abstract

In marigold, Tagetes sp., many of its biological characters are unknown, especially tbe variability of its inflorescence. For this reason, the objective of this study was to contribute to the knowledge of such variability. Capitulum of Tagetes sp. were collected in November of 1992 from 891 graves at tbe San Miguel Xometla cemetery, selecting those that showed different morphological traits. Afterwards, they were described and clasified using the following variables: species, type of corolla border, color of the corolla, and type of capitulum. Four species were identified and 68 phenotypes of T. erecta L. were establisbed. The percentages of tbe phenotypes were: double capitulum (62.3%), orange color inflorescences (55.8%), and irregular corolla border (54.4%). These are tlie types whicb are preferred by the fanners. Fourteen phenotypes were found in T. patula L. with intermediate capitulum (64.3%) and this were more common tban tbe single type (28.6%), and those with double inflorescences (7.1 %) . The capitulum with predominance of red and yellow colors showed the same quantity of phenotypes. Four and three phenotypes were found in T. lungulata and T. minuta, respectively. These data show the great diversity of inflorescences in marigold, basically with T. erecta L. and the large amount of existing germplasm to initiate specific research studies.