Genetic divergence study through D2 statistics in rabi sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench

Abstract

D2 statistics was employed in the current study to evaluate the diversity among 68 genotypes originating from 28 countries and belonging to diverse races. For all of the 19 traits, a significant variation was observed among all the genotypes. The presence of 16 clusters showed that all of the genotypes had a significant diversity. Larger clusters I and II, with 27 and 24 genotypes, respectively, were the first two clusters. The largest inter cluster distance (741.61) was found between clusters VII and XV, and both clusters remained solitary, implying that the genotypes found in these clusters have heterotic responses, which might lead to the production of better segregants. The traits with the largest genetic divergence were 1000 grain weight, followed by grain length, grain breadth, and panicle weight per plant. For a future crop improvement program, these traits can be used to choose appropriate maintainer and restorer lines on different male sterile lines. Among the most diverse genotypes, DSMR-8 and DSMR-4 were discovered to be restorers, whereas IS 7987 and IS 12937 had a maintainer reaction on maldandi. Therefore, these lines can be a good source of restorer genes, new male sterile lines on maldandi to diversify the genetic base of restorers and male sterile lines.