Study on the classification on pomegranate cultivars by numerical taxonomy.

Objective Assessing the genetic diversity by morphological traits and analyzing the genetic relationships among pomegranate cultivars in order to provide essential information for the classification by morphological traits and the exploration and utilization of pomegranate cultivars.Method Based on the observation and records of the genetic relationship of 62 pomegranate cultivars,28 characteristics were studied by means of numerical taxonomic method and cluster analysis was carried out using within-groups linkage and UPGMA method.Result The method of within-groups linkage and UPGMA could also support the cultivars with nearer relatives come together.Using the method of within-groups linkage,the pomegranate cultivars classification could be divided into three groups,such as Danban group and Fuban group,Chongban group,Chong'e group;Using the method of UPGMA,the cultivars also could be divided into Danban group,Chongban group,Chong'e group,but a tiny number of cultivars appeared among the three groups,and the two methods could both support the relative near species of species to come together.When UPGMA method was used to cluster 62 cultivars,it was found that the flower color was an extremely important character,which supported that the flower color,plant height,petal were the important standards of classification of morphology.Conclusion Numerical taxonomic method applied to classification of pomegranate cultivars is basically consistent with the classification by morphological traits,and can support the morphological classification,in the meantime,the variety relationship can be showed,and the flower color,plant height,petal play important roles in clustering analysis.