PCA and genetic divergence analysis in Indian pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivars

Eight commercially growing varieties under temperate, subtropical and tropical part of India were studied to determine the overall degree of polymorphism and to detect similarities among genotypes. Correlation studies showed considerable relation among different traits. PCA and cluster analysis showed a significant phenotypic and genetic diversity in the existing cultivars. All the cultivars could be grouped in to four major clusters. Majority of them fall under cluster-III. Local cultivar ‘Kashmiri Local’ showing maximum dissimilarity. The greater part of variance was accounted by traits such as duration of flowering, fruit set, fruit weight, fruit volume, fruit calyx length, calyx diameter, rind weight, rind thickness, number of seed + aril per fruit and juice percentage.