Accessing agro-morphological variation in Ber (Ziziphus spp.) Germplasm from Kutch, Gujarat, Using Multivariate Techniques

This study assessed morphological diversity in ber ( Ziziphus spp. ) germplasm collected from Gujarat’s Kutch district. Thirty accessions from Bhuj, Nakhatrana, Mandvi, and Abdasa talukas were sampled across ~ 170 km, capturing the central and western Kutch ber-growingarea. Seventeen morphological and quality traits including plant height, canopy spread, branch number, leaf area, fruit dimensions, weight and total soluble solids (TSS) were measured. Descriptive statistics showed broad phenotypic dispersion: plant height ranged from 144 to 455 cm; canopy volume varied from 0.58–8.34 m³; and leaf area from 1.38–9.76 cm², TSS ranged from 3.40–17.50 °Brix. Fruit length, width, and 5-fruit weight displayed moderate variability. Principal component analysis reduced the 17 traits to four components, explaining 85.55% of total variation. PC1 (50.14%) was associated with fruit dimensions and TSS, identifying high-yield, high-quality accessions (e.g., Ber_Abda_20, Ber_Bhuj_30); PC2 (20.50%) contrasted vegetative vigour with fruit size. Hierarchical clustering separated accessions into four clusters: (1) tall, large-fruited types; (2) a unique accession combining moderate vigour and very large, sweet fruits; (3) compact, small-fruited types; and (4) intermediate vigour and fruit size. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive associations between plant height and canopy volume (r ≈ 0.91) and between fruit weight and size index (r ≈ 0.58), while TSS correlated moderately with plant size and fruit dimensions. Overall, the Kutch ber germplasm displayed considerable morphological and biochemical diversity. The promising accessions Ber_Abda_20, Ber_Bhuj_21, Ber_Bhuj_29 and Ber_Bhuj_30 offer potential for cultivar development and highlight the value of conserving Kutch’s under-studied genetic resources.