Use of Multivariate Analysis in Screening for Drought Tolerance in Ornamental Asteraceae Species

Asteraceae is one of the families with a large number ornamental plants. Climate change imposes need to select species that are more tolerant changing environmental conditions, especially drought. In this study, we compared performance under water stress six belonging different tribes geographical origins. Young plants obtained after seed germination were subjected intermediate (irrigation half amount used in control treatments) and severe (no irrigation at all) for month. Growth variables biochemical markers determined assess effects on treatments. Multivariate analysis tools rank according their tolerance. Three relatively susceptible stress, Callistephus chinensis, Xerochrysum bracteatum, Calendula officinalis, whereas Leucanthemum vulgare, Glebionis carinata, Ageratum houstonianum tolerant. Our study indicated last two species, which registered as invasive some geographic areas, possess larger phenotypic plasticity. Principal component (PCA) combined canonical variation (CVA) proved optimal statistical methods analysing diverse origins genera family, such Asteraceae.