Correlation and principal component analysis for morphophysiological characteristics in Salix clones

Abstract

Present investigation reflects the significance of association between different morpho-physiological characteristics and their relative contribution towards biomass production in Salix clones. Study recorded highly significant positive genotypic and phenotypic correlation for total chlorophyll with chlorophyll a, followed by plant height with collar diameter and number of branches plant^-1, and collar diameter with number of branches plant. Four out of 12 principal components explained 77.166% of total variation of original variables with Eigen values more than unity (Gutman's lower bound). The first principal component elucidated 40.553% of total variation whereas second, third and fourth principal components explained 15.419, 11.919 and 9.276% of total variation, respectively. Since, the maximum variable loading was obtained for number of branches, followed by collar diameter, total chlorophyll and plant height, thus maximum weightage should be given to these traits for clonal selection because these are the largest contributor towards total genetic variability present in the Salix clones.