Evaluation of genetic diversity among some tall Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflorum Ramat.) using morphological traits in Beiranshahr conditions

Chrysanthemum (Dendranthemagrandiflorum Ramat.) is one of most important ornamental and medicinal plants in the world. In order to evaluate genetic diversity among some tall Chrysanthemum cultivars using morphological markers, 21 traits in 15 tall cultivars, were evaluated in randomized complete block design with three replications in Beiranshahr Khorramabad county, Lorestan province. Results obtained from this study revealed a wide range of variations in the measured traits between cultivars. A higher coefficient variation observed for some traits such as flowers number, number of leaves, number of lateral branches. Results of correlation coefficients showed that there was negative correlation between flowers number per plant and number of branches, main branch diameter and plant spacing. Factor analysis, showed seven main and independent components factors with Eigen values greater than one which could Justified 91.1 percent of the total variation. In Cluster analysis, cultivars in Euclidean distance of 33.73were divided into three groups. Therefore, two cultivars of 'Shekarnaz' and 'Nandia2' were distinguished from the other cultivars with the highest branch height and 'Golgis' cultivar with the largest head diameter. Since the evaluation of these cultivars was done in the same conditions, so selection can be done for the studied traits.