Journal of Crop Breeding

This study was conducted to investigate the genetic diversity of alfalfa genotypes by multivariate analyses using agronomic and morphological traits. For this purpose, 20 alfalfa genotypes with local control Baghdadi was considered as the first factor and three harvest was used as the second factor. This experiment was performed to split plot at the time in randomized complete block design with three replications in 2013 at the College of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University of Shoushtar. Correlation results showed the most significant positive correlation between forage yield and dry matter yield (0.95^**). Two traits forage yield and days to 50% flowering, versus dry matter yield entered in the model using stepwise regression.  Principal component analysis showed that 63% of total variance was justified by the first two components.  Biplot and cluster analysis results of under study were classified into three groups.  In the first group, including lines KFA1, KFA2, KFA3, KFA5, KFA6, KFA7, KFA11, KFA13, KFA17 Baghdadi variety were desirable for high forage yield.  In the second group there were lines KFA8, KFA9, KFA10, KFA12, KFA15 and KFA16 that had low forage yield and quality.  The third group were includes cultivars of Bami Garmsiri, Yazdi Garmsiri and Nikshahri Garmsiri that had desirable quality forage.  Results of discriminant function showed that 100% of genotypes were belong to their own group.