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2025 Vol.38, Issue 6 Preview Page

Research Article

Trait-Based Clustering Analysis Reveals Phenotypic Diversity and Regional Differentiation in Capsella bursa-pastoris (Shepherd’s Purse)
Eun-Gyeong Kim1
,
Jae-Eun Lee2
,
Sookyeong Lee2
,
Gi-An Lee3
1Post-doc, National Agrobiodiversity Center, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Jeonju 54874, Korea
2Researcher, National Agrobiodiversity Center, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Jeonju 54874, Korea
3Senior Researcher, National Agrobiodiversity Center, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Jeonju 54874, Korea
*Corresponding Author
1 December 2025. pp. 783-793
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Abstract

Morphological diversity and its association with geographic origin are crucial for the conservation and genetic use of Capsella bursa-pastoris (shepherd’s purse). In this study, 35 accessions from Korea and abroad were evaluated using 13 phenotypic traits of shoots and roots. Factor Analysis of Mixed Data (FAMD) and Partitioning Around Medoids (PAM) clustering classified the accessions into six clusters (C1–C6), with C5 and C6 distinctly separated, indicating unique phenotypic compositions shaped by trait combinations or regional origin. Root size-related traits such as length, area, and volume were most pronounced in C1, whereas C6 exhibited the smallest values. C5 showed thicker roots despite shorter lengths, and C4 had the greatest number of root forks and links. Root link length (RLL) was highest in C6, reflecting diverse root architectures. Correlation analysis revealed generally positive relationships among root traits, while RGB and RLL associations varied by cluster, with C5 showing a strong correlation (r = 0.91). Regional composition differed among clusters, and Shannon’s diversity index for leaf-lobed type (LL) was highest in C6 and lowest in C5. These results elucidate phenotypic diversity and population structure in C. bursa-pastoris, supporting efficient germplasm classification and selection for breeding.

Keywords
Capsella bursa-pastoris
Geographic origin
Morphological diversity
Root architecture
Trait-based clustering
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Information
  • Publisher :The Plant Resources Society of Korea
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국자원식물학회
  • Journal Title :Korean Journal of Plant Resources
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국자원식물학회지
  • Volume : 38
  • No :6
  • Pages :783-793
  • Received Date : 2025-08-14
  • Revised Date : 2025-10-27
  • Accepted Date : 2025-11-05
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7732/kjpr.2025.38.6.783
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