BELUL GIXHARI1*, HEKURAN VRAPI2, VALBONA HOBDARI1
1 Albanian Gene Bank, Agricultural University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania
3 Plant Protection Departments, Agricultural University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania
* Corresponding author e-mail: gixharibelul@ubt.edu.al
Abstract
Study for characterization of genetic diversity present in the pea germplasm stored in Albanian genebank was carried out in the Experimental Field of Agriculture University of Tirana during three growing seasons (2010, 2011, and 2012). The study analyzed 12 local pea (Pisum sativum L.) genotypes of different origins for 23 quantitative morphological characters and had the objective to characterize and select those with favourable characteristics for use in breeding programs. ANOVA, PCA and cluster analysis reveal considerable extent of diversity, and the association among different traits. Most of the quantitative morphological characters showed significant differences among important agro economic traits. Cluster analysis for morphological data divide the whole pea genotypes into three groups in respect of genetic diversity and similarity among pea accessions of different origin. Relationships analysis between the morphological characters and pea genotypes using Principal Coordinates’ analyses show that there are nine morphological characters with larger values in PC1 that account for 57.4% of total variance. The study identifies traits with agronomic interest which account for genetic diversity and the demarcation of distinguishable morphological groups which will facilitate the maintenance and agronomic evaluation of the collections.
Key-words: Clusters analysis, genetic diversity, morphological pea characters.
