Evaluation of Genetic Diversity in Some Lettuce Lines According to the Morphological and Phenological Characteristics

In this research, 16 local and 4 imported lines were evaluated using morphological and phonological characteristics via lettuce descriptor in a completely randomized design block with 3 replicates at University of Guilan. Results indicated that there is a high variability in local lettuce lines. Imported lines, in comparison to local lines, had significant differences in the most evaluated traits. These differences could be considered in breeding. According to flowering time, evaluated lettuce lines ranked in three groups, including early, moderate and late flowering. Head weight ranged from 906.33 g (line 84-96-TN) to 284.33 g (line Sheikh-Aboud) and their differences were significant at P≤0.01. There are high genetically variations between lettuce lines. The differences between lettuce lines were significant for quantitative traits. Cluster analysis based on quantitative and qualitative characteristics was conducted separately. Evaluated lines were ranked into 3 groups based on quantitative and qualitative characteristics. Differences in cluster analysis between quantitative and qualitative traits were observed. These differences could be considered in crosses, breeding works, and hybrid seed production with different characteristics.