Estimates of heritability and correlations of morphometric traits in Clarkia (Onagraceae).

Interspecific heritability values were estimated using parent-offspring regression analyses for 11 morphological traits differentiating Clarkia nitens and C. speciosa subsp. polyantha. Estimates ranged from near 0 for anther color and germination percentage, to 0.8 for calyx length and petal tip color. Phenotypic, genetic, and environmental correlation matrices were computed to determine the extent of interspecific correlations of traits. Cluster analyses of the genetic and environmental correlation matrices each resulted in three clusters of correlated traits; however, the clusters derived from the two matrices were different. The clusters produced by analysis of the environmental correlation matrix were similar to the factors obtained from principal component analysis of the phenotypic correlation matrix. Genetic correlations may result from strong linkage due to interspecific chromosomal differences.