Diversity analysis of kiwifruit germplasm resources and quality resources selection based on fruit characters in the south of Jiangxi province

A total of 66 kiwifruit varieties (lines) preserved in the south of Jiangxi province were used to analyze the variation coefficient, Simpson index, and Shannon-Weaver index. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis were used to analyze the diversity of 11 main fruit quality characters. The results showed that the average variation coefficient of 11 characters was 28.68%, with the smallest of dry matter (7.37%), and the largest of vitamin C (83.84%). There was a large diversity difference among the characters. The range of Simpson index was 0.985-0.971, and the range of Shannon-Weaver index was 3.931-4.182. Characters such as soluble solids content and titratable acid showed high genetic diversity. The difference analysis showed that all characters were significantly different from at least one other character. The principal component analysis showed that the first three principal components could reflect 74.286% of the information of the tested kiwifruit germplasm resources, and could summarize the basic characteristics of fruit quality. The contribution rate of each character was scattered, and the character variation was multi-directional. Q-type cluster analysis divided all the tested resources into four groups at the grade boundary L3 =16.56 and all kiwifruit pubescens were clustered into one group. There were certain characteristics within the group, differences between groups, and certain regional clustering trends. The top five varieties with comprehensive evaluation scores were Ganly-r, 'Ganlv-2', 'Hongyang; 'Yihuang-2', and 'Ganhong-2', with the best comprehensive performance in fruit quality in the south of Jiangxi province, showing the value of further adaptive cultivation and breeding. Based on the fruit characters, the genetic diversity of kiwifruit germplasm resources in the south of Jiangxi province was studied, which provided the basis for the regional exploitation and utilization of high-quality kiwifruit resources, resource protection, and new variety breeding.