Biotechnological approaches to overcome hybridization barriers and use of micropropagation tool for further improvement in Heliconia : a review

Heliconia , also known as ‘False-Bird-of-Paradise’, is a genus of flowering plants in the monotypic family of Heliconiaceae.The genus contains 250–300 species distributed in Neotropical areas from the North of Mexico to the South of Brazil. Several Heliconia species are widely cultivated as ornamental plants for landscaping as well for cut flower production. The luxuriant green foliage and the attractive colored inflorescence contribute to the exotic appearance which is gaining popularity in flower shops. To meet the market demand, it is mandatory to establish a steady supply and to have at disposal of new valuable hybrids. Unlikely, the development of new Heliconia hybrids is complex due to several existing phenological and physiological barriers. Considering the several issues of sexual and asexual propagation of Heliconia , micropropagation could be a potent alternative to bring novelties to the market and for sustainable biodiversity conservation. Moreover, the new biotechnological techniques pointed out to overcome the hybridization barriers (reported as self-incompatibility) at both intra and inter-specific level could make the plant breeding more efficient for obtaining new varieties. The paper aims at reviewing the most recent findings, the constraints and future perspectives for the valorisation of Heliconias .