Higher emergency vigor seed traits of sweet maize (Zea mays L) inbred lines in China by factor analysis and cluster analysis

Abstract

Factor analysis and cluster analysis is broadly applied to define seed nutrient components that mostly determine the seed vigor in the field that can be used as breeding and selection criteria. By using factor analysis and clus- ter analysis, relationship of seed emergence percentage and seed traits of 122 sweet maize inbred lines were investigate in the experiment. Reserves compositions variability of the sweet maize kernels which processed by drying milling were determined. The results showed that the reserves compositions and emergency percentage were significantly different among the sweet maize inbred lines. The emergency percentage of sweet maize inbred lines was concerned with five principal components from factor analysis and the contribution rate of single kernel weight was the most important, which could account for 26.97%. Sweet maize inbred lines with emergency per- centage higher than the 3rd quartile of the index could be classified into four groups by cluster analysis.