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Plant development is constantly affected by biotic and abiotic factors, which influence their morphology and chemical composition. In this context, the evaluation of morphological and physicochemical variation of 35 loquat genotypes during two consecutive years, 2015 and 2016, were carried out. The results revealed a significant difference of the morphological and the physicochemical traits between the two years. Indeed, 2016 showed high values for fruit and leaf traits as well as the physicochemical parmeters, while 2015 recoreded the highest values for seeds traits. In addition, the ANOVA results showed a significant effect of genotype on the physicochemical parameters and the morphological characters, excluding the geometric diameter and spherical index of seeds. Regarding the effect of year, it was also significant on physicochemical parameters and morphological traits except the size and shape of fruit and the seed shape. For the genotype x year interaction effect, it was significant on all traits studied, with the exception of the traits relating to geometric diameter of fruit and seed plus the sphericity index of the seed. Thus, size and shape of fruit remained stable over these two consecutive years. The identification of stable traits presents a result that could be beneficial for breeding programs.

The present study was conducted to assess the physico-biochemical variability in 35 genotypes of loquat using multivariate analyses, in order to provide efficient criteria and promising genotypes for the loquat genetic breeding program. Mature fruits were collected from 35 loquat genotypes, belonging to the Zegzel valley, were subjected to physico-biochemical analyses. The results revealed a juice yield ranging from 0.21 to 0.65 g/g FW, and a polyphenols content fluctuating from 322.8 to 366.89 μg GAE. g-1 DM. Regarding DPPH test, with a range of 3.35 and 7.6 μmol TE. g-1 DM, showed a positive correlation with total polyphenol content (r²= 0.76) and flavonoid content (r²= 0.72). Moreover, a negative correlation was recorded between the total soluble solids content and juice yield (r²=- 0.47), which was moderately correlated with vitamin C (r²= 0.59). In addition, the components analysis results revealed a significant and independent contribution of bio-physicochemical characteristics in the loquat variation. Indeed, biochemical characteristics contribute to PC1, while, physicochemical parameters contribute to PC2 and PC3. Furthermore, the hierarchical clustering analysis classified the 35 genotypes into four homogeneous groups independently of their geographic origin. According to these findings, the genotypes T9, T12, Z16, Z17 and TA9 exhibited high total sugar content, while, genotypes T9 and T11 provide high carotenoids, flavonoids, total polyphenols and antioxidant activity level. As results, these genotypes can be directly recommended for the vegetative propagation as well as applied along with the efficient characters in future loquat breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant development is constantly affected by biotic and abiotic factors, which influence their morphology and chemical composition. In this context, the evaluation of morphological and physicochemical variation of 35 loquat genotypes during two consecutive years, 2015 and 2016, were carried out. The results revealed a significant difference of the morphological and the physicochemical traits between the two years. Indeed, 2016 showed high values for fruit and leaf traits as well as the physicochemical parmeters, while 2015 recoreded the highest values for seeds traits. In addition, the ANOVA results showed a significant effect of genotype on the physicochemical parameters and the morphological characters, excluding the geometric diameter and spherical index of seeds. Regarding the effect of year, it was also significant on physicochemical parameters and morphological traits except the size and shape of fruit and the seed shape. For the genotype x year interaction effect, it was significant on all traits studied, with the exception of the traits relating to geometric diameter of fruit and seed plus the sphericity index of the seed. Thus, size and shape of fruit remained stable over these two consecutive years. The identification of stable traits presents a result that could be beneficial for breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]