Morphological markers of Dioscorea polystachya Turcz. Germ plasm resource in Fujian

This study analyzed 15 agronomic trait indicators by hierarchical clustering method,and built inherit distance tree for Dioscorea polystachya Turcz.When the absolute value was between 13 and 26,34 D.polystachya Turcz.were divided into two categories according to their state of above ground growth.When the absolute value was between 9 and 13,the category of the poorer growth was further divided into two sub-categories:(a) the long D.polystachya Turcz.with branches and russet brown bark,and(b) rod-like D.polystachya Turcz.and lisbon yam.When the absolute value was around 8,the rod-like D.polystachya Turcz.and D.alata L.became distinguishable.The two methods could satisfactorily separate D.alata L.from the general D.polystachya Turcz.,according to the analytical results of comprehensive morphological and molecular markers.It also showed that the tuber type could be an important criterion for distinguishing different varieties of D.polystachya Turcz.