Phenotypic traits and genetic diversity of elephant grass for bioenergy purposes

The analysis of phenotypic variation patterns is pivotal in breeding programs when developing new cultivars to fully exploit allelic richness for specific purposes. In this study, we assessed 182 genotypes of elephant grass from partially inbred families, focusing on six phenotypic traits (dry matter yield—DMY, dry matter percentage—DM, number of tillers—NT, plant height—PH, stem diameter—SD, and leaf blade width—LW). Our goal was to quantify the genetic diversity necessary for the management of elephant grass breeding for energy production. Both univariate analysis (descriptive statistics) and multivariate analysis (Principal Component Analysis and Hierarchical Clustering on Principal Components) were employed to investigate the diversity across partially inbred S₁ family genotypes of elephant grass. Significant phenotypic variation was observed between the evaluated traits, with DMY, NT, and LW exhibiting the most pronounced differences. DMY, PH, and NT displayed positive correlations and demonstrated a robust ability to distinguish between the genotypes. Cluster analysis revealed four distinct groups of genotypes. The identification of taller plants with a higher number of tillers offers a valuable means of discriminating superior genotypes. This, in turn, enhances the selection of partial lines to develop new hybrid elephant grass cultivars with the aim of increasing energy biomass production.