The use of multivariate analysis in identifying relationships among disorder and mineral element content in apples

Abstract

The use of principal component analysis, followed by rotation of a reduced number of component axes, and its role in the identification and interpretation of relationships between disorder and mineral content in apple research is described. The relationship among bitter pit incidence, calcium deficiency and mean fruit weight per tree is illustrated by using data obtained on Jonathan apples from potted trees. Principal component analysis must be performed on unstructured data, and emphasis is placed upon the removal of treatment and block effects when constructing the correlation matrix upon which the analysis is performed. The mathematical techniques described are applicable to a wide range of agricultural experimentation.