*3.8. Heatmap Analysis*

The heatmap represented the overall performance of 10 observable traits among the 130 germplasm. A heatmap is a two-dimensional data visualization technique that uses color to show the scope of a phenomenon. Color variation by hue or intensity provides the reader with a visual representation of how the phenomenon is grouped or varies over

space. It depicts the relative patterns of highly abundant features against a background of mostly low-abundance features (Figure 5).

**Figure 5.** Heatmap showing the clustering pattern of 130 eggplant genotypes with 10 morpho-physiological traits. Heat map displaying the relationship matrix among Eggplant genotypes. The red diagonal represents a perfect relationship of each accession with itself. The symmetric off-diagonal elements represent the relationship measures for pairs of genotypes. The white of warmer colors on the diagonal show clusters of closely related genotypes. DFF = Days to first flowering (day), FD = Fruit diameter (cm), FL = Fruit length (cm), FW = Fruit weight (g), YPP = Yield plant−<sup>1</sup> (kg), NDVI = Normalized difference vegetation index, PH = Plant height (cm), SLA = Single leaf area (cm2), SPAD = Soil plant analyses development, TF = Total number of fruits.

A heatmap analysis of characteristics was performed to demonstrate a chromatic examination of the genotypes. The heatmap analysis produced two dendrograms: one in the vertical direction, representing the germplasm, and one in the horizontal direction, representing the traits that caused the diffusion. The red diagonal depicts each accession's perfect connection to itself. The relationship measurements for pairs of germplasm are represented by the symmetric off-diagonal elements. Based on the morpho-physiological properties of the germplasm studied, six clusters emerged through hierarchical clustering (Figure 5). Group (a) included 43 germplasm from clusters v (30 germplasm) and vi (13 germplasm), while group (b) included the remaining 87 germplasm from four clusters. Out of a total of 87 germplasm, cluster-i received 33, cluster-ii received 13, cluster-iii received 30, and cluster-iv received 11 (Figure 5). Dendrogram two also revealed two significant groups: group (a) is associated with seven traits (FD, FL, FW, YPP, NDVI, SPAD, and TF), while group (b) is associated with three traits (DFF, PH, and SLA) (b). Surprisingly, the dendrogram two groups and sub-groups revealed the disparity effects of different eggplants.
