JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2021, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (6): 169-176.doi: 10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202106002

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A comprehensive evaluation of ornamental characteristics and adaptability of willows based on analytic hierarchy processes

GUO Jiahui1(), JIAO Zhongyi2(), HE Xudong2, ZHUGE Qiang1,*(), ZHOU Jie2,*()   

  1. 1. College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
    2. Jiangsu Academy of Forestry, Willow Engineering Technology Research Center of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Nanjing 211153, China
  • Received:2021-06-01 Accepted:2021-08-30 Online:2021-11-30 Published:2021-12-02
  • Contact: ZHUGE Qiang,ZHOU Jie E-mail:1060104004@qq.com;40363958@qq.com;qzhuge@njfu.edu.cn;zjwin718@126.com

Abstract:

【Objective】The color of willow branches is diverse, but the branches of cultivated willows are dark in winter, and the floating catkins, while necessary for reproduction, are troublesome to handle. Therefore, the comprehensive evaluation of ornamental traits, such as branch color after leaves have fallen, adaptability, and fertility, serves as an important basis for the selection of ornamental willow germplasm resources and the selection of new varieties. 【Method】 Twenty willow clones with various branch colors and ornamental values were selected as experimental materials. According to the analytic hierarchy process, two target layers were set: ornamental and adaptability. On this basis, 11 factor layers were set up. Indicators were scored quantitatively, and the weight value and assignment of each evaluation indicator were determined. The preliminary establishment of the evaluation hierarchy model (based on differences in observation characteristics such as stem type, branch color, fertility, adaptability, preservation rate, and germination) was used to evaluate new willow clones with stable ornamental characteristics and good adaptability in Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province, China.【Result】 The weight ranking of each index in the factor layer to the total target was as follows: trunk color (F3)> twig color (F4)> plant height (F1)> catkin fertility (F7)> disease and insect resistance index (F9)> growth preservation rate (F8)> stem style (F2)> germination time (F10)> branch number (F6)> branch angle (F5)> flowering time (F11). Trunk color (F3), twig color (F4), and plant height (F1) contributed significantly to the ornamental properties of willow clones, with weights of 0.281 3, 0.193 0, and 0.127 7, respectively; these are the main indicators for the comprehensive evaluation of ornamental traits. The results showed that Salix miyabeana 78, 77, 85 and 80 clones can be selected as red-yellow color-branched willow clones, which have high ornamental values.【Conclusion】 In this study, we used the analytic hierarchy process to construct a structural model to comprehensively evaluate superior willow clones such as Salix miyabeana, S. integra, S. caprea, S. eriocephala, S. integra, S. integra ‘Hakuro Nishiki’, and S. purpurea. The selected colorful willow trees have an important reference basis for the genetic improvement of ornamental willow clones.

Key words: shrub willow, ornamental characteristic, analytic hierarchy process, Salix miyabeana, Salix eriocephala

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