Morphological and Molecular Characterization of 18 Introductions of Cape Gooseberry Physalis peruviana L. collection of the University of Nariño

Eighteen cape gooseberry introductions from the collection of Nariño's University were characterized through morphological and molecular RAM markers. For the morphological characterization were used 10 plants of each entry. Through the principal component analysis (PCA) was found that 81.75 % of the total variability of the study population, regarding quantitative variables, is represented by three main components, defined by characteristics related to fruit and seed. The qualitative multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) indicated that 61,51% of the total variability was explained by five factors, defined mainly by traits related to the flower and calyx. The classification analysis (CA) based on morphological characterization, grouped introductions by total soluble solids and length of calyx. In the molecular characterization 66 polymorphic loci were found with bands of 500 to 3,000 bp. The value of heterozygosity for the 18 introductions was 0.44. Based on the Nei genetic distance criterion, it was found the less genetic distance (0.095) between A-34 and Sylvania, the largest genetic distance (1.42) occurred between Ecotype Colombia and Peru. Clusters of morphological and molecular characterization are mismatched, probably because phenotypical and genotypical characteristics, studied are governed by different factors.