| To investigate the relationships among traits in a Brassica napus germplasm population characterized by a rod-shaped main inflorescence, correlation analysis, path analysis, and principal component analysis were performed on nine plant architecture and yield-related traits across 209 accessions. The results indicated considerable variation in the rod-shaped main inflorescence rate, branch height, and stem bending resistance, while stem diameter and plant height exhibited relatively low variation. A negative correlation was observed between the rod-shaped main inflorescence rate and both stem bending resistance and main inflorescence length. Path analysis indicated that biological yield per plant, main branch height, and main inflorescence length directly had positive effect to economic yield per plant. Principal component analysis integrated the agronomic traits into five key components: economic yield per plant, number of main branches, rod-shaped main inflorescence rate, stem bending resistance, and stem diameter, accounting for a cumulative variance contribution of 81.26%, thereby capturing the major trait characteristics of the rod-shaped main inflorescence germplasm. This study provides valuable reference for plant architecture breeding programs targeting rapeseed with a rod-shaped main inflorescence. |
