Genetic variability among ‘Kashmiri Nakh’ pear (Pyrus pyrifolia): A local variety grown in North- Western Himalayan region of India

Twenty four (24) ‘Kashmiri Nakh’ pear ( Pyrus pyrifolia ) genotypes were studied to assess the overall degree of polymorphism, detect similarities among important tree, pomological, fruit quality and yield parameters. Eleven (11) variables were scored and subjected to multivariate analysis. Results show a considerable phenotypic diversity among ‘Kashmiri Nakh’ pear genotypes and differed significantly for the above traits. The cluster analysis classified the genotypes into two major groups according to their potential characteristics. The first group was found superior in terms of fruits total soluble solids (TSS), TSS/acidity and yield related characteristics and second group in fruits morphological (length, diameter, weight) and tree characteristics attributes. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that traits positively related to tree height, tree spread (N-S), tree spread (E-W), yield per tree, fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter and acidity, however negatively related to TSS and TSS/acidity. The first principal components expressed 33.58% of the total variation and second PC2 accounted for 23.76% of the total variation. A large proportion of variability observed in genotypes ‘TB-3, CHB-4, TBP-3, THP-7, TB-1, THP-1, TBP-1 and TB-2 were found unique for tree, fruit and yield attributing traits during PCA. Keywords:  Genetic variability, genotypes, cluster analysis, principal component analysis (PCA). African Journal of Biotechnology , Vol 13(31) 3352-3359