Variation and Selection of Important Quantitative Traits in Castanea henryi Cultivars

The variation of fruit and leaf, nutrient content, growth and yield were analyzed among 17 Castanea henryi cultivars. Results showed that there was a rich variation between different cultivars and a certain correlation between the phenotypic traits. The potential for selection and the joint selection of phenotypic traits was large. The variation coefficient was between 8.91% and 64.29%, with an average of 27.32%. The lowest variation coefficient was the content of starch, and the largest was the yield per plant. The highest correlation coefficient was 0.828, between yield and knot bracteal number. The repeatability of each trait was high with an average of 0.805. Through the comprehensive evaluation of phenotypic traits, the top 3 were 'Wuzhen', 'Youzhen' and 'Chushuhong'. Based on fruit nutrient content and yield, 'Chushuhong', 'Wuzhen' and 'Dajianzui' showed superior grades. Clustering results showed that 17 cultivars were divided into 4 classes. 'Chushuhong' was in the first class; 'Youzhen' was in the second class; There were 4 cultivars in the third class: 'Dabaozhen', 'Tiezhui', 'Dajianzui' and 'Hongzizhen'; There were 11 cultivars in the fourth class: 'Huangzhen', 'Bailuzi', 'Xiaojianzui', 'Niujiaozi (late mature)', 'Shuangfengzi', 'Niujiaozi (middle mature)', 'Zhongjianzui', 'Youtongzi', 'Wuzhen', 'Wukechangmang' and 'Ouningzi'. The results laid the foundation for breeding new varieties with high yield and quality.