Multi-Trait Comprehensive Evaluation and Elite Germplasm Screening of 43 Celery Germplasm Resources

In this study, 43 celery germplasm resources were comprehensively evaluated based on phenotypic and quality-related traits. The results revealed substantial variation among the measured traits, with physiological traits exhibiting greater variability than morphological traits. Correlation analysis showed that growth-related traits were generally significantly positively correlated. Principal component analysis (PCA) effectively extracted the major sources of variation, with the first two principal components explaining 77.2% and 80.7% of the total variation in growth-related and physiological traits, respectively. A comprehensive evaluation model was subsequently established using the membership function method, and the D values ranged from 0.107 to 0.763. Comprehensive ranking identified accessions 1, 10, 12, and 17 as superior germplasm resources that may serve as valuable materials for celery breeding. Overall, the multi-trait comprehensive evaluation approach employed in this study effectively identified elite germplasm resources and provides important theoretical support for celery breeding and the efficient utilization of germplasm resources.