Diversity of compound leaf phenotypic characteristics of 532 Vicia sativa germplasms

The researches about compound leaf phenotypic diversity of Vetch (Vicia sativa) have great significance to its development and utilization as an important and excellent legume forage. In the present study, 532 V. sativa germplasm were collected from six continents in the world and their compound leaf phenotypic characteristics were analyzed. The results indicated that there were abundant diversity in leaflet shape, leaflet apex shape, leaflet arrangement, leaflets number, rachis length, compound leaf width, common petiolar length, leaflet index, compound leaf area for these tested germplasm resources whose variation coefficient ranged from 16.77% to 36.60% with extremely significant difference. The principal components analysis showed that compound leaf size, leaflet surface shape, leaflet arrangement and common petiolar length were the dominant factors which constituted compound leaf phenotypes diversity. These results laid the foundation for the collection, identification, evaluation, protection and utilization of V. sativa germplasm resources.