Correlation and Cluster Analysis of the Pepper Germplasm Based on the Main Characteristics of the Fruit and Pulp Cells

【Objective】 The aim of this paper is to study the correlation and cluster of different characters in different pepper resources and lay a foundation for the further improvement of Xinjiang dry pepper varieties. 【Method】 The 24 pepper advanced self-line germplasm resources were employed in this paper to evaluate the main fruit's traits, the main characteristic of the pulp cells structure and the time-consuming of the fruit losing 75% water. Thereafter, the correlation and cluster analysis was implemented to the entire characteristic. 【Result】 The results showed that the positive and negative significance correlation existed among the characteristics, and the correlation coefficient ranged from -0.625^** to 0.976^**. Furthermore, 24 pepper germplasm resources were divided into five groups by euclidean distance UPGMA method. The first group included 8 lines, the second group included six lines, the third group included three lines, the fourth group included six lines, and the fifth group only included one line which implied the peculiarity of this line. 【Conclusion】 Pepper is rich in genetic diversity. The draining time (time required for 75% water loss) was only negatively correlated with the proportion of the chamber area.