Assessment of genetic diversity in China aster [Callistephus chinensis (L.) Nees

China aster [Callistephus chinensis (L.) Nees] is a flowering annual mainly cultivated for loose flower and cut flower, bedding pot culture. To assess the genetic diversity, 42 genotypes were evaluated fourteen quantitative traits. The found to be highly variable traits such as plant height, spread, stalk length, 100 weight, number of flowers per plant, weight yield hectare. However, low variability was recorded vase life shelf life. broadly grouped into two clusters, which further divided cluster 1a, 1b 2a, 2b, respectively. All in 1a vigorous medium flowering, whereas, tall, erect, late flowering. 2a comprises with short stature, small early however, 2b contains only genotypes. In principal component analysis (PCA) PC1 correlated yield, flowers/plant, length height PC2 positively negatively weight. results suggested that existing variation could used development trait-specific novel