Fruit economic characteristics and yields of 40 superior Camellia oleifera Abel plants in the low-hot valley area of Guizhou Province, China

Abstract

In this study, we assessed 26 economic characteristics and yields of the mature fruit of 40 superior Camellia oleifera Abel plants grown at the C. oleifera germplasm resource nursery in the low-hot valley area of Southwest Zuizhou, China, using principal component analysis (PCA). Correlations among the characteristics and the variability of the plants in these characteristics were also analyzed. Out of the 26 characteristics, 16 primary economic characteristics were selected for comprehensive assessment, based on the results of which the plants were ordered to obtain excellent C. oleifera germplasms. The data were subjected to PCA, and the 16 characteristics were integrated into 6 independent comprehensive indices, which included PV1 (single-fruit weight), PV2 (pericarp thickness), PV3 (seed rate), PV4 (total unsaturated fatty acids), PV5 (iodine value) and PV6 (dry seed rate). Then, the sum of the products of the contribution rates of the components and components scores was taken as the comprehensive score of each superior plant. In C. oleifera grown in the low-hot valley area, the oil yield exhibited very significant positive correlations with the dry seed rate and kernel rate but a very significant negative correlation with the 100-seed weight. The dry seed rate exhibited very significant negative correlations with the fruit diameter and fresh seed rate. Among the 26 characteristics, the variations of the acid value, peroxide value, number of fertile seeds, 100-seed weight and single-fruit weight were great; those of the fruit diameter, fruit height, kernel yield, oleic acid and total unsaturated fatty acid were small, showing strong genetic stability. According to the obtained comprehensive scores, the top 10 plants were ordered as follows: CY-6 > CY-13 > CY-31 > CY-11 > CY-16 > CY-22 > CY-28 > CY-23 > CY-24 > CY-29. This result was basically consistent with the ranking result according to the average yield per unit crown width within five years. In the low-hot valley area of Guizhou, C. oleifera exhibits excellent performance in single-fruit weight, total unsaturated fatty acids and kernel rate, 6 characteristics, i.e., acid value, peroxide value, single-fruit weight, the number of fertile seeds, 100-seed weight and α-linolenic acid possess high breeding potentials.

Characterization and comprehensive evaluation of phenotypic characters in wild Camellia oleifera germplasm for conservation and breeding

“…As an important woody oil crop, the oil content of fresh fruit is directly proportional to oil production and economic value ( Hao et al., 2017 ). Research on fruit traits is critical and closely related to oil yield, an important breeding and variety-promotion reference ( Yang et al., 2022 ).…”

Genetic Diversity Analysis and Core Germplasm Collection Construction of Camellia oleifera Based on Fruit Phenotype and SSR Data

“…FSR and DSR were negatively correlated with six phenotypic traits. Liang et al [ 20 ] studied 40 C. oleifera plants from Guizhou and found that only FSR and PT were negatively correlated, while DSR was negatively correlated with FHD. The result was probably due to the fact that the 40 C. oleifera plants came from a unique climate in low, hot valleys, exhibiting specific genotypic performance.…”

“…The index of phenotypic and economic traits was determined using the method described by Yang et al [ 20 ]. In the ripening period, three plants of each variety were randomly selected to collect a sufficient amount of fruit in a mesh bag and marked.…”

Indirect Selection for Seed Yield in Sacha-Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis) in Brazil

“…These predictions are greater than those of Valente et al [11], who selected ten progenies, managed them in the same area, under the same conditions used in the present study, and reported a mean yield of 763 g•plant −1 , or 847 kg.ha −1 . Plant breeding for yield and quality traits in fruits is complex due to the polygenic nature of these traits and the existence of genetic correlations among them [38][39][40][41].…”