Analysis of agronomic, yield, and quality traits of 20 Vicia germplasm resources

This study aimed to evaluate the agronomic, yield, and quality characteristics of 20 Vicia germplasm resources for the future development and cultivation of Vicia germplasm resources. The key agronomic characteristics, yield, and nutritional components of the 20 collected Vicia germplasm resources were determined. The diversity of the agronomic characteristics was analyzed and comprehensively evaluated by genetic variation, correlation, cluster, and membership function analyses. The genetic diversity was found to be rich, with the coefficient of variation ranging from 5.08% to 25.93%, and the average coefficient of variation being 16.62%. Among them, the largest coefficients of variation were stem-leaf ratio and compound leaf width, which were 25.93% and 21.66%, respectively. W20 had the highest fresh and hay yields, at 23 241.67 and 3 044.45 kg·hm⁻², respectively. The crude protein content of W7 was the highest, up to 27.39%; W1 and W17 had the lowest neutral and acid detergent fiber contents, at 26.04% and 19.33%, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that plant height was significantly positively correlated with leaf axis length, compound leaf length, and hay yield (P < 0.05) and significantly positively correlated with compound leaf width and fresh yield ( P < 0.01). When the Euclidean metric was 10, the 20 Vicia germplasm resources were divided into four groups. The first group contains tall plants, long leaf axis and pod length, high thousand-grain weight, and low neutral and acid detergent fiber content, which can be used as intermediate materials for multi-objective trait breeding. Group 2 contains three germplasms with the largest number of grains per pod, while other characters are not prominent; this group could be an excellent parent to cultivate high grain yielding varieties. Group 3 has many leaflets, high crude protein content, and narrow compound leaves. It can serve as an excellent parent for breeding high-density cultivation and high-protein materials. Group 4 contains only one germplasm having a high biological yield and wide compound leaves. Thus, it can be used as an excellent parent for breeding high-yield varieties. The top five germplasm resources ranked by the average value of membership function were W20, W7, W5, W13, and W11, and these can be selected and utilized according to different uses and breeding needs.