Objective To provide references for breeding and germplasm resources development of Quercus fabri by analyzing the variations of fruit morphology and nutrient composition of Q. fabri from different provenances.

Method The fruits of 368 individual plants from 14 Q. fabri provenances were collected, and 4 morphological characteristics and 6 nutrient content indicators of each fruit were measured, then, the statistical analysis, principal component analysis and cluster analysis were conducted.

Result (1) There were extremely significant differences in the 4 morphological characteristics of Q. fabri among and within these provenances, and there were significant differences in 6 nutrient contents among provenances. The mean value of Shannon-Wiener (H) of fruit morphology characteristics was 1.839, in which the values of fruit width, fruit length, length-width ratio and 100-grain mass were 1.886, 1.837, 1.832, and 1.801. (2) The results of correlation analysis showed that most of the 10 characteristic parameters had significant or extremely significant correlations, however, only a few of them had significant correlations with geographical and climatic factors. (3) According to the results of Q-type cluster analysis of 10 characteristic parameters, the 14 Q. fabri provenances could be divided into 3 groups.

Conclusion There are extremely significant differences in morphological characteristics of Q. fabri fruit within or among provenances, and the difference is greater within provenance than among provenances. There are extremely significant differences in nutrient content among provenances. It shows abundant genetic variations. There is a certain correlation between fruit characteristic parameters and geographic climate factors. Based on the results of cluster analysis and nutrient content analysis, it is proved that the fruit quality of the provenance from Suichang of Zhejiang Province is the best.