A quantitative multivariate methodology for unsupervised class identification in pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) plant leaves size

Abstract

Aim of study: Genetic diversity of pistachio, can be evaluated by using different descriptors, as adopted in international certification systems. Mainly the descriptors are morphological traits as leaf, which represents an important organ for its sensibility to growth conditions during the expansion phase. This study adopted a rapid and quantitative non-hierarchic clustering classification (k-means), to extract size classes basing on the contemporary combination of different morphological traits (i.e., leaf stalk length, terminal leaf length, terminal leaf width and terminal leaf ratio) of a varietal collection composed by 21 pistachio cultivars.