Genetic diversity of pepper germplasm resources based on agronomic traits
To clearly understanding the genetic diversity of pepper germplasm resources collected by Quzhou Acade-my of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences,improving the utilization of germplasm,and providing theoretical basis for pepper breeding.Genetic diversity analysis,correlation analysis,principal component analysis and cluster analysis were performed on 18 agronomic traits of 193 pepper germplasm resources.The results showed that the fruit pheno-type of the tested materials exhibited abundant genetic diversity,the genetic diversity index ranged from 4.95 to 5.25,and the mature fruit color had the highest genetic diversity index.The coefficient of variation of 9 quantitative traits(fruit length,fruit width,single fruit weight,carpel number,main stem height,first flower node,squaring stage,flowering stage and fruit setting stage)ranged from 23.25%to 81.98%,and the highest coefficient of varia-tion was observed in single fruit weight.The relationship among the traits was complex,and the cumulative contribu-tion rate in principal component analysis was 96%.The 18 traits could be simplified into 6 principal components.The tested materials were divided into 3 groups by cluster analysis,of which groups I contained most of germplasm resources with white green ripe fruit color,the number of germplasm resources in group I was the largest,with 150.Most of the germplasm resources in groupⅡwere introduced from the United States,and the germplasm resources in group Ⅲ had larger fruit shape.In view of the genetic background of pepper germplasm among groups and the differ-ences in fruit shape,flowering period and main stem height,hybridization among groups can be carried out to im-prove breeding efficiency of pepper.