A Comparative Study of Genetic Diversity, Heritability and Inter-relationships of Tree and Nut Attributes between Prunus scoparia and P. elaeagnifolia using Multivariate Statistical Analysis

Abstract

By applying multivariate statistical analysis, this research aimed to estimate the heritability and find relationships between the vegetative and reproductive characteristics of <em>Prunus scoparia</em> and <em>Prunus elaeagnifolia</em>. Twenty genotypes of each species were selected randomly from cultivated populations and twenty-two traits including the tree, leaf, flower, nut and kernel attributes were measured. Results showed that there were high levels of genotypic and phenotypic variations among the genotypes of both species. Many of the measurements pertaining to the leaf, flower, nut and kernel, showed very high heritability (H² >90%) in both species, whilst some traits such as shoot diameter in<em> P. scoparia</em> and kernel moisture in both species had very lower heritability (H² <50%). Generally, the heritability of measured traits in <em>P. elaeagnifolia </em>were higher than those of <em>P. scoparia</em>, especially foreconomically important traits including yield (H² = 94 and H² = 54.61, respectively in<em> P. elaeagnifolia </em>and<em> P. scoparia</em>), nut weight (H² = 97.83 and H² = 85.39.61, respectively in<em> P. elaeagnifolia </em>and<em> P. scoparia</em>) and oil percentage (H² = 75.55 and H² = 61.43, respectively in<em> P. elaeagnifolia </em>and<em> P. scoparia</em>). Stepwise regression analysis revealed that the most influential factors on yield of <em>P. scoparia</em>, were the fruit set, flower diameter and leaf length, whilst for the <em>P. elaeagnifolia</em>, the yield was mostly determined by fruit set and leaf area. The high genetic diversity and heritability of the studied traits, indicates high genetic potential of this germplasm to be utilized in future breeding programs.