Market-oriented screening and evaluation of cut peony (Paeonia lactiflora) cultivars using AHP and K-means clustering

This study established a market-oriented evaluation framework for selecting elite cut peony (Paeonia lactiflora) cultivars by integrating 15 key traits across five dimensions: ornamental quality, stem commercial traits, yield potential, vase performance, and management ease. Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), the most influential criteria were identified as ornamental quality (31.90%), stem commercial traits (25.95%), and vase performance (18.31%). Consumer preference analysis, based on K-means clustering, revealed that pink-white and soft pink colors, as well as semi-double flower types, were the most favored by consumers. Traditional grading standards for vase life failed to distinguish between cultivars; therefore vase life was reclassified using K-means clustering, and the opening rate was incorporated to enhance accuracy. The integrated AHP–K-means approach classified 78 cultivars into three performance levels, and identified 25 elite varieties with superior floral traits, upright stems, and extended vase life. This framework effectively links consumer preference with quantitative trait evaluation, and provides a practical tool for breeding and selecting high-quality cut peony cultivars.