Abstract:

A Cerasus humilis population arisen from seeds was used to study hierarchical cluster and bivariant correlation analysis by measuring the polymorphism of vegetative growth traits and fruit mineral nutrient absorption. Our objective was to clarify the relationship between wild C. humilis population genetic variation and the mineral nutrient inheritance. The results indicated that wild C. humilis population had abundant genetic variation, especially in shape, size, colour, fresh and dry mass, water content, fruit mature period, and mineral nutrient elements contents of fruits and leaves, and showed significant difference in genetic characteristics and physiological characteristics. The clustering results were divided into two groups, one was small leaf and small fruit, the other was big leaf and big fruit. The two groups showed significant difference in water content of leaves and fruits, fresh and dry mass of fruits, fruit diameter, Ca and K contents of leaves and fruits. Correlation analysis indicated that there was a significant positive linear relationship between mineral nutrient elements of Ca,K,Mg,Zn,Mn except Fe in fruits and the vegetative growth traits indices of leaves and fruits. It was suggested that the vegetative growth traits indices of leaves and fruits of C. humilis, such as shape, size, fresh and dry mass and water content, could characterize the mineral nutrient absorption and metabolism of fruits.

Key words: Cerasus humilis, vegetative traits, mineral nutrition, cluster analysis, correlation