Comprehensive Evaluation of Nutritional Quality for 14 Azolla Accessions

A comprehensive evaluation model of nutritional quality for Azolla was established to screen high-quality accessions resources with high protein content, rich amino acids, and balanced functional components. 【Method】 The contents of 24 nutritional quality indices across four major categories—protein, essential amino acids, non-essential amino acids, and functional components—were measured in 14 Azolla accessions. A comprehensive evaluation model was established using principal component analysis (PCA) and validated by the membership function method (MFM). 【Result】 The results showed that 24 nutrition quality indices in 14 Azolla accessions had significant variations. Based on PCA for the comprehensive evaluation of Azolla nutritional quality, accession 3001 achieved the highest comprehensive score (3.84), while accession 7001 received the lowest score (-4.29). Based on MFM for the comprehensive evaluation ranking of Azolla nutritional quality, the Azolla accession with the highest average membership function value is 3001 (0.71), while the accession with the lowest value is 7001 (0.17). The trends in the comprehensive evaluation of Azolla obtained by the two methods are consistent. The optimal accession is 3001. 【Conclusion】This study established a comprehensive evaluation model of nutritional quality for Azolla, which overcomes the limitations of the traditional egg protein based fuzzy pattern recognition method that considers only protein and essential amino acids. By integrating non-essential amino acids and functional components, accession 3001 with the optimal comprehensive quality was screened. This accession exhibits high protein content, abundant amino acids, and balanced functional components, demonstrating strong potential as a high-quality plant-based protein source and functional feed. The comprehensive evaluation model of nutritional quality for Azolla provides a scientific basis for the efficient screening and comprehensive utilization of Azolla accession resources.