Genetic diversity of Bael [Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr.] accessions from north-east India based on principal component and cluster analysis

• Published in: Genetic resources and crop evolution Vol. 71; no. 1; pp. 253 - 277
• Main Authors: Debbarma, Panthor, Hazarika, T. K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.01.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acidity; Aegle marmelos; Agriculture; antioxidants; Ascorbic acid; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Breeding; Carbohydrates; Carotenoids; Chlorophyll; Cluster analysis; Flavonoids; Flowers; Fruit trees; fruit weight; Fruits; Genetic analysis; Genetic diversity; Genetic variability; genetic variation; Germplasm; germplasm evaluation; India; Leaf area; leaf length; Leaves; Life Sciences; phenolic compounds; Phenols; phenotypic correlation; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Plant Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; principal component analysis; Principal components analysis; Pulp; Research Article; seed weight; Sugar; Weight; India; Cluster analysis; Genetic diversity; North-east India; Principal component analysis
• ISSN: 0925-9864; 1573-5109
• DOI: 10.1007/s10722-023-01619-3

Genetic variability study is an initial step aiming to the germplasm characterization and preservation of the precious fruit trees for future breeding programs. Bael [ Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr.] is an important underutilized fruit of the world having great medicinal and religious significance. The present study aimed to exploit the genetic diversity of thirty bael accessions for 40 different physico-chemical characteristics to identify the elite types from northeast India. Observations revealed rich genetic variations with respect to individual leaf length, leaf breadth, leaf area, total chlorophyll, flower length, flower breadth, bud length, bud breadth, petal length, petal breadth, fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit volume, pulp weight, pulp percentage, seed weight, seed number, shell weight, moisture, TSS, acidity, ascorbic acid, total sugar, reducing sugar, non-reducing sugars, total carbohydrates, total proteins, total carotenoids, total phenolics, total flavonoids and antioxidant (IC 50 ) among different accessions. Based on physico-chemical characteristics, principal component analysis was performed. The genotypic and phenotypic correlation among the physical and chemical characters revealed strong positive correlation among most of the characters. Ten principal components (PCs) contributed 85.15% of variation and were considered for further analysis. The biplot between PC1 and PC2 revealed that accessions MZU-HAMP-AMS-3, MZU-HAMP-AMS-4 and MZU-HAMP-AMS-18, MZU-HAMP-AMS-22 and MZU-HAMP-AMS-24 are most diverse having all the desirable characteristics and can be exploited as distinct parent for future breeding program. On the basis of overall assessment accession MZU-HAMP-AMS-24 was found to be the most promising and can be used by breeders for future breeding programmes.