Multivariate analysis of morphological variation in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) germplasm from Ethiopia and Eritrea

Multivariate methods, including principal component, cluster and discrimina nt analyses, were used to assess the patterns of morphological variation an d to group 415 sorghum accessions for 15 quantitative characters. The first five principal components explained 79% of the total variation with plant height and days to 50% flowering being the most important characters in the first principal component. Cluster analysis grouped the accessions into te n clusters. A greater proportion of accessions of similar adaptation zones and accessions from regions of origin with similar agro-climatic conditions were grouped together. Moreover, discrimination of accessions was more pro nounced when discriminant analysis was based on zone of adaptation rather t han regions of origin. Based on the observed patterns of variation, it is c oncluded that the morphological variation in the material studied is struct ured by environmental factors. The implications of the results for plant br eeding and germplasm conservation programmes are discussed.