Genetic Diversity of Onobrychis altissima Grossh. Populations of the National Plant Gene Bank of Iran Based on Agronomic and Morphological Traits

To determine the genetic variation in gene bank sainfoin collection، 137 populations of Onobrychis altissima together with three populations as control were planted in augmented design in the experimental field of Seed and Plant Improvement Institute، Karaj، Iran in 2009. Statistical parameters including mean، standard deviation، coefficient of variance، Shannon index، correlation coefficients and cluster analysis were calculated for different traits of the populations. The results showed a considerable variation in the studied traits. Leaf/stem ratio was the most useful trait for distinction of populations from each other in comparison with pod length and pod width. Hundred seed weight and plant height at 50% flowering had a positive and significant correlation. Using Ward s method for Cluster analysis، populations were divided into six sub-clusters، but no relationship was found between genetic variation of populations and their geographical distribution. The populations of second cluster are important due to high leaf/stem ratio، so they can be used in breeding program for high protein and forage quality.