Biometric Analysis on Classification of Weed, Wild and Cultivated Azuki Beans.

The variation pattern of morphological traits and precocity among weed, wild and cultivated races of azuki bean (Vigna angularis (Willd.) Ohwi et Ohashi) was biometrically analyzed using ten accessions per race. Weed azuki beans showed intermediate features between wild and cultivated azuki beans in several traits of plant architecture, pod and seed traits, and precocious growth habit. A factor analysis clearly recognized a variation pattern in plant architecture and size of reproductive organs in the three races and showed a high variability among accessions of the weed race. Seed size including weight and pod size is differentiated along with first leaf differentiation, less branching habit and shorter internode in higher nodal position are associated with the domestication of cultivated azuki beans. It is assumed that the great difference in traits among the races have occurred through adaptation to a disturbed environment and deliberate human selection.