Identification and evaluation on agronomic traits of Lotus corniculatus germplasm resources from Russia

In order to utilize Lotus corniculatus germplasm resources effectively for breeding, nine agronomictraits of 69 L. corniculatus germplasm resources introduced from Russia were evaluated and classified based on investigation results in field and indoor. The results showed the characteristics of 69 materials had obviously difference and varioustypes. The variation coefficient of the fresh weight per plant was the maximal(57.58%); While the growth period had the minimum variation coefficient of 6.92%. The nine agronomic characters were composed of 3 independent principal components, including grass yield factor, growth period (mature) factor, and thousand seed weight factor. The cumulative contribution of the 3 factors was 87.47%. Through cluster analysis based on the 3 principal components, the 69 Russian L. corniculatus germplasm resources in the present study were divided into 3 groups. Materialsin the first group had the trait of latematuring, half stolon and middle production; The second group was the precocious, procumbent and loweryield materials. The third groups belonged to middle maturity, upright and highyielding materials, and the third group had the best agronomic traits in the comprehensive yield.