Genetic Variation and Trait Relationships Analysis in Purslane Accessions: Insights from Gene Action Prediction and Principal Component Analysis

This study focuses on gene action prediction and principal component analysis of biometric and physiological traits in fifteen purslane accessions was conducted during March – May 2022 in Namakkal district under pot culture. Frequency distribution analysis revealed skewed traits such as leaf length and leaf thickness with significant skewness levels, while other traits exhibited non-significant skewness. Moderate skewness was observed in traits like plant height, number of branches, and dry weight. The platykurtic nature of traits indicated the influence of multiple genes. Test statistics analysis revealed varying gene actions, with additive gene action dominating most traits, except for traits like leaf length showing positive excess kurtosis. PCA demonstrated that the first four principal components explained 91.10% of cumulative variance, indicating their substantial influence. These components highlighted the contributions of different traits to total variability, offering insight into their interrelationships. Notably, PC 1 and PC 2 accounted for most variation. Outliers among purslane accessions were identified, reflecting unique genetic characteristics. The combination of gene action prediction and PCA provides comprehensive insights into genetic influences on traits, suggesting strategies for purslane breeding programs. The presence of additive gene action with duplicate epistasis underscores the potential for trait enhancement in advanced generations. These findings offer promising avenues for developing improved purslane cultivars with desirable traits, contributing to its sustainable utilization. Further research is needed to fully harness the genetic potential of these accessions in purslane breeding efforts.