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Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin ›› 2015, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (4): 73-79.doi: 10.11924/j.issn.1000-6850.2014-2237

Special Issue: 园艺

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Correlation, Principal Component and Cluster Analysis of Main
Agronomic Traits of Brassica oleracea L. var. italica

Zhu Zhangzhi, Zhang Zhixian, Liu Jun, Xie Liujie, Tan Guoyin, He Daogen   

  1. (Taizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Linhai Zhejiang 317000)
  • Received:2014-08-17 Revised:2014-12-11 Accepted:2015-01-06 Online:2015-03-20 Published:2015-03-20

Abstract: This study intended to provide a theoretical basis for the germplasm improvement and innovation, and breeding new varieties through revealing the characteristics and laws of the correlation of the various agronomic traits of broccoli. Correlation and principal components were studied and cluster analysis was conducted to analyze the growth period, single head weight and other 16 major agronomic traits of 76 broccoli germplasm materials collected from the main growing areas. The correlation analysis revealed that there was a higher correlation of the various traits of broccoli. The principal component analysis results showed that the six eigenvalues of cumulative variance proportion 73.104% were selected for evaluation of the broccoli germplasm which could be summarized as production factor, growth potential factor and curd characteristic factor. And those were the main indexes for evaluating the broccoli germplasm. 76 broccoli germplasm materials could be classified into 3 clusters. Cluster Ⅰ was mainly early maturing germplasm with more lateral shoot, middle highly round sphere and light weight. Cluster Ⅱ was mainly for late-maturing germplasm, with lanceolate plant type, highly round sphere and middle curd weight. Cluster Ⅲ was mainly middle maturing germplasm, with more upright plant type, highest round sphere and the most weight. It is feasible to analyze and comprehensively evaluate the agronomic traits of broccoli, screen out specific germplasm and guide breeding work.