The use of discriminant function analysis to study diploid and tetraploid cytotypes of Lathyrus pratensis L. (Fabaceae: Faboideae)

Univariate and multivariate analyses of 28 morphological traits were carried out on seven tetraploid and 16 diploid accessions of Lathyrus pratensis L. grown under uniform conditions. More than 80% of the plants from diploid populations but less than 50% from the tetraploids flowered the first growing season. Cluster analysis (Wards’ method) and principal component analysis did not provide clear differences between these cytotypes. Discriminant function analysis based on ploidy level identified those characters which can provide a reasonably good separation. The results confirmed that L. pratensis can still be regarded as a semi-cryptic species with two cytological races in which tetraploids have arisen through autopolyploidy.