Abstract: In order to more scientifically evaluate the nutrition quality and classify the walnut resources based on the sensory, physical and chemical indicators, the appearance quality and the contents of protein, fat and eleven mineral elements (N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and Se) in the walnut seed were determined according to GB/T 20398—2006 and GB/T 5009—2003, and nutritional quality was analyzed by principal component analysis and cluster analysis. Five principal components accounted for 80.83% of total variances. The cumulative contribution rate of the first factor and the second components to total variances was 46.21%, suggesting physical indicators, shelling percentage, shell thickness, fruit weight, fruit diameter, and mineral elements cadmium and copper to be characteristic indicators in evaluating walnut, and cadmium and copper to be characteristic elements. Cluster analysis showed that thirteen walnut samples could be classified into three groups, thus providing an approach for the identification of genetic kinship and geographical distribution to some extent.

Key words: walnut, sensory indicators, physical and chemical indicators, principal component analysis, cluster analysis, dietary resource