title: [Numerical analysis of morphological variation of germplasm resources of dioscorea].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Botanical characters of germplasm resources of Dioscorea were observed and compared, which could to offer reference for its genetic improvement, germplasm resource identification and classification.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on field cultivation, twenty-four morphological traits of ninety-four Dioscorea germplasm resources were observed or determined. And the morphological differences among germplasm resources were compared by principal component analysis and cluster analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were ample morphological diversity in the twenty-four traits, in especially in leaf size and tuber characters of the ninety-four Dioscorea germplasm resources. The first seven principal components which accounted for 80. 957% of total variance were extracted from the principal component analysis. The ninety-four germplasm resources could be divided into four clusters, which belonging to Dioscorea opposite, D. persimili, D. fordii and D. alata respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were large morphological variation among germplasm resources on Dioscorea. Identification of germplasm resources of Dioscorea should focus on leaf size and tuber characters.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Breeding and comprehensive utilization, Ministry of Education, China. yuxian8251212@163.com
authors.forename: Yu-Xian
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Feng-Qing
authors.initials: FQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jia-Fang
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Shu-Mei
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.forename: Fu-Gui
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Xu-Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Kang-Jing
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Zhong-Yi
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D027742:Dioscorea / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D005843:Geography; D010802:Phylogeny; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D025341:Principal Component Analysis