Genetic Divergence Studies for Yield and Physiological Traits in Pearl Millet

Abstract

Genetic divergence analysis is a powerful tool in quantifying the degree of divergence between biological populations and to assess the relative contribution of different components of total divergence. The present investigation aimed to study the genetic divergence and clustering pattern of 76 pearl millet genotypes for selection of suitable parents that can be utilized in hybridization programme. The analysis of data revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the traits. Based on the genetic distance (D2 value), the 76 accessions were grouped into 12 clusters. Of them, cluster I with 38 genotypes forms the largest followed by cluster II and III with 13 in each. The character relative injury contributed the maximum to the divergence. Based on the average inter-cluster distance (D), the clusters VI and XI followed by clusters XI and XII were found to be highly divergent from the other clusters. Selection of parents from these clusters and crossing them in a breeding programme is advocated to develop male sterility based heterotic single cross hybrid (A×R) combinations. Maximum diversity was observed between 65 R (VI) vs. (XI) followed by 80 R (XI) vs. 1 B (XII).