Correlation, path, and cluster analysis of agronomic characteristics of the F1 population from the cross between Agropyron mongolicum and diploid Agropyron cristatum

To explore the relationship among nine agronomical characteristics of Agropyron. and provide the theoretical basis for improving the efficiency of wheat breeding, the F1 generation of the cross between Agropyron mongolicum (female parent) and the diploid A. cristatum (male parent) was analysed. The nine agronomic characteristics of 116 F1 plants was analysed using different methods of data analysis. The results showed that all characteristics exhibited significant genetic variation (11.2%~40.13%). The variation in grains per spikelet and grains per spike were the greatest, with a value of 30.56% and 40.13% respectively. Correlation and path analysis showed that florets per spikelet had a significant effect on thousand kernel weight with an r value of 0.168 (P<0.05) and a direct path coefficient of 0.364. This was followed by spike length (r = 0.235, P<0.05) and kernels per spikelet (r=0.126). The 116 plants of the Agropyron F1 population were clustered into three groups. The first and third group had greater plant height and more foliage. As such, these groups could represent varieties with high-quality forage grass for breeding. The first and third group had numerous positive characteristics, including more florets per spikelet, more spike grains, among others, which represent good germplasm resources for forage grass and wheat breeding.