JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2025, Vol. 49 ›› Issue (1): 119-127.doi: 10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202401005

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Correlation analysis and model construction of nut phenotype and kernel quality of early-fruiting walnuts (Juglans regia)

LI Yang1,2,3(), ZHANG Yunqi3(), WEN Yue4, ZHANG Suilin1, CHEN Yonghao3, QI Jianxun3, ZHANG Junpei2,*(), HOU Zhixia1,*()   

  1. 1. State Key Laboratory of Efficient Production of Forest Resources, Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
    2. State Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of Forest Cultivation, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
    3. Institute of Forestry and Pomology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences,Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (North China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs,Beijing Engineering Research Center for Deciduous Fruit Trees, Beijing 100093, China
    4. College of Horticulture, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
  • Received:2024-01-05 Revised:2024-03-01 Online:2025-01-30 Published:2025-01-21
  • Contact: ZHANG Junpei, HOU Zhixia E-mail:18753826349@163.com;zhyq1985@bjfu.edu.cn;zhangjunpei@caf.ac.cn;hzxn2004@163.com

Abstract:

【Objective】There are correlations between phenotypic traits and fruit qualities. This study clarifies the relationships between nuts’ phenotypic traits and kernels’ qualities in early-fruiting walnuts from the Beijing-Hebei region, aiming to construct association models that provide a basis for preliminarily distinguishing nut qualities through phenotypic traits. 【Method】 The research focused on the superior genotypes of early-fruiting walnuts (Juglans regia) in the selection nursery at the Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences. Nine nut phenotypic traits and four kernel qualities were measured during the fruit ripening stage. Based on these data, coefficients of variation, correlations, and variances were analyzed, and suitable regression models were constructed through fitting verification. 【Result】(1) The variation across 13 nut indices reaches a very significant level (P<0.01), with the coefficients of variation ranging from 5.43% to 28.63%. Except for sphericity, geometric average diameter, kernel yield, oil content, and protein content, the coefficients of variation for all other indicators exceed 10%. (2) Nut qualities exhibit intercorrelations. Oil content is closely related to the kernel yield and shows a significant positive correlation with soluble sugar content, but it is not closely related to starch or protein content. The protein and soluble sugar content demonstrate similar relationships with nut phenotypic traits, showing a significant negative correlation with nut size and dry weight and a significant positive correlation with volume kernel yield. Both are also significantly negatively correlated with starch content; the starch content is positively correlated with nut size and dry weight but negatively correlated with volume kernel yield.(3) Regression models are constructed based on the correlations between nut phenotypic traits and kernel qualities. There is a linear relationship between oil content and kernel yield, a parabolic relationship between soluble sugar content and volume kernel percentage, a linear relationship between starch content and nut volume, and a linear relationship between protein content and geometric average diameter. The models are validated by model fitting, with the difference between the predicted and actual values within the 95% limits of agreement (LOA) accounting for more than 95% of the total, demonstrating the models’ reasonableness and reliability. 【Conclusion】 Reliable regression models are constructed based on the close relationship between nut phenotypic traits and kernel qualities. These models can preliminarily distinguish nut quality and are helpful for the initial screening of suitable cultivars or strains.

Key words: Juglans regia, phenotypic trait, kernel quality, screening of cultivars or strain, model fitting

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