Abstract: In order to explore the genetic diversity of Colocasia esculenta germplasm in Zhejiang Province, and excavate special resources, 25 landraces were selected in the experiment. Genetic diversity analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and cluster analysis were carried out on 15 phenotypic traits, and simple sequence repeats (SSR) molecular marker cluster analysis was combined based on these 25 resources. The results showed that the variation coefficient and diversity index were 31.32% and 0.97, respectively, indicating Colocasia esculenta germplasm in Zhejiang Province had a rich genetic diversity. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the accumulated eigenvalue of 5 principal components was 10.871, and cumulative contribution rate was 77.649%. The first principal component factor reflected the plant morphology of multi-cormels taro, the second principal component factor reflected the shape of taro leaf, the third principal component factor reflected the shape of parent-taro, the fourth and fifth principal component factor represent parent-taro epidermis hair (PTEH) and parent-taro colour, respectively. Moreover, grandson-taro shape (GTS), parent-taro bud colouring (PTBC), leaf junction colour (LJC), lower middle petiole colour (LMPC) and parent-taro epidermis hair (PTEH) could be preferentially observed in the Colocasia esculenta germplasm identification. All resources could be clustered into five categories at the genetic distance of 4.171 based on phenotypic traits. Among them the shape of son and grand-son taros in group Ⅲ and group Ⅴ was oval, which showed a well commodity nature. Otherwise, two special taro germplasm were excavated with purplish red petiole. 20 pairs of primers amplified 53 bands, of which 48 bands had polymorphism. The polymorphism rate was 90.6%. Polymorphism information content (PIC) ranged from 0.22 to 0.64. 25 taro accessions could be grouped into 5 clusters at DICE genetic similarity coefficient 0.721 based on SSR markers, this was similar to the phenotypic clustering, but also had some difference. Two clustering methods were supplement of each other among Colocasia esculenta germplasm identification, indicating there was no direct relationship between geographical origin. These results would provide an important theoretical basis for the further conservation, utilization and innovation of Colocasia esculenta germplasm.

Key words: Colocasia esculenta, phenotype, SSR marker, genetic diversity, cluster analysis