Phenotypic Diversity of Phalaenopsis Based on Statistic Analysis and Data Mining

With the aid of statistic analysis and data mining, this study investigates the phenotypic diversity of 48 phalaenopsis varieties to provide basis for resource utilization and breeding improvement. Results showed that the order of expression ranges of phalaenopsis characteristics was inflorescence>petals>dorsal sepal>leaf>apical lobe. Two characteristics, inflorescence length and flower number of single inflorescence, had the largest expression ranges. Based on clustering analysis, 48 phalaenopsis varieties can be divided into 7 groups: varieties with an intermediate number of flowers, varieties with a small number of flowers, varieties with a large number of flowers, varieties with small size, varieties with large size, varieties with intermediate size and varieties with conspicuous flowers. Based on genetic distance concluded from cluster analysis, varieties from one group could be hybridized with those from other groups for the purpose of breeding new varieties to meet various demands.