Abstract

Guava is one of the tropical fruit crops grown in the southern region of Iran. Genetic characterization of the local collections is the basic foundation of plant breeding. Since no report has been published on guava germplasm in Iran, the present study was conducted to estimate the genetic relationship among guava genotypes using quantitative and qualitative traits. Results revealed a high variation among genotypes. Most of the accessions showed two flowering seasons with round and bi-colour fruit skin. Significant correlations were observed between some quantitative traits. Factorial analysis separated characteristics to eight groups that expressed 94.8% of the total variance. Cluster analysis using quantitative characters divided the studied genotypes into three groups. The accessions with yellow fruit skin showed lower fruit water content, high fruit reduced sugar and total soluble solid (group A). The remaining accessions had green-yellow fruit skin. Group B demonstrated high flower diameter and inflorescence length and the accessions in group C showed lower reproductive traits values, but high values of fruit traits. Accessions belonging to group A are suitable to be considered as scions, those in group B could be proper rootstocks and those in group C are appropriate to be consumed in local markets and processing industries.