Morpho-phenological characterization of grape (Vitis vinifera L.) germplasm grown in northern zones of Punjab, Pakistan

This endeavor includes thirty grapes' genotypes grown in northern zones of Punjab, Pakistan to determine similarities and dissimilarities in forty-four morphological traits according to the descriptor International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI). The relation between the genotypes was determined by principal component analysis (PCA), and similarity was worked out by using cluster analysis. The dendrogram divided the genotypes into two main groups with classes and subclasses. The variation present within the class was up to 81.72% while the difference between classes was 18.28%. The morphological quantitative traits such as bunch length, bunch width, bunch weight, peduncle length, the weight of 10 berries, number of berry in a bunch, berry length, and berry width were in the following range 27.50-11 cm, 13.75-5 cm, 583.56-77.70 g, 6.50-1.55 cm, 53.70-9.70 g, 354-28, 27.37-11.40 mm and 18.06-10.41 mm respectively, which indicated a wide level of diversity in the selected genotypes. Based on phenological attributes, Regina, Perlet, and Early White were found early maturing genotypes to prevent berry rotting due to monsoon rains at the final stage of ripening. The data generated in this study would be helpful to preserve the existing germplasm and be available for designing future breeding programs.

Automated summary

This study analyzed the morphological traits of 30 grape genotypes grown in northern Punjab, Pakistan, revealing a wide range of diversity among them. Utilizing principal component analysis and cluster analysis, the genotypes were categorized into different groups, which could assist in preserving existing germplasm and planning future breeding programs.