Maximum Number Of Genotypes Research Articles

Genetic diversity studies in local collections and advanced generations of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) genotypes for fodder yield and yield-attributing traits

Precise information about genetic divergence is vital for a productive breeding program, as genetically diverse parents produce high heterotic effects, producing desirable segregants with higher yield levels. This study assessed seventy genotypes and four checks to estimate the extent of genetic diversity based on ten morphological traits attributed to yield. The genotypes showed significant differences for all the traits considered. Based on the Mahalanobis D2 statistics, the genotypes were grouped into ten clusters, with cluster I having the maximum number of genotypes, whereas cluster IX had a single genotype. The average inter-cluster distances revealed that the genotypes in clusters VI and VII were more diverse. In contrast, clusters I and III genotypes had the shortest inter-cluster distances, indicating genetic closeness. The study revealed a broad genotypic diversity within and between the alfalfa germplasm collections. The genotypes in clusters I, III, and V provide excellent genetic material for alfalfa yield improvement. They offer a possible way to exploit the existing variability to develop superior populations or composites

Studies on Genetic Divergence in Cabbage Genotypes in the Mid Hills of Solan District, Himachal Pradesh, India

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) is one of the most important vegetables of the family Brassicaceae and is grown under temperate to tropical climatic conditions for its head in more than ninety countries throughout the world. The diversity in cabbage is immense due to the presence of variation in shape, size, weight and maturity of heads. The greater the variability in the available germplasm, more would be the chances for selecting superior genotypes for use in breeding programmes or direct use as cultivars. Twenty three genotypes of cabbage including check variety, Golden Acre were evaluated in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The results concluded that twenty-three diverse genotypes of cabbage were grouped into four clusters. The resultant four clusters showed genetic diversity and maximum number of genotypes were accommodated in cluster I (12) followed by II (7), IV (3) and III (1). The maximum inter cluster distance was recorded between cluster II and III, therefore, the hybridization between the genotypes of cluster II and III can be performed to get superior hybrids or recombinants in segregating populations for further breeding programmes. Based on the mean performance, genetic distance and clustering pattern, inter-varietal crosses can be made which may be advantageous in creating wider variability for better heterotic combinations and transgressive segregants in cabbage.

DUS Characterization of Rajmash (Phaseolus vulgare L.) Genotypes for Morpho-physiological Traits under Rainfed Conditions

Background: The current investigation was carried out in the year 2021-22 at Dryland Agriculture Research Station (DARS), Budgam. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications in field and completely randomized design (CRD) in vitro conditions for evaluating different traits of genotypes. DUS characterization was conducted as per the DUS testing guidelines by Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Act, Authority, Descriptors for rajmash (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) GOI, New Delhi [reproduced from Plant Variety Journal of India. Vol.1 (1), 2007]. Methods: The observations were recorded on 18 DUS characters including morphological and quality attributes and physiological characters. For all the features studied, the analysis of variance for morpho-physiological and qualitative attributes found significant differences, providing adequate chance to select the genotypes with desired qualities. DUS traits were examined in accordance with the descriptor, “state” and “code” provided for each character. Result: The observed range of variation were recorded for different traits for different genotypes. Cluster analysis for morphological, maturity, yield and quality characteristics arranged the rajmash genotypes into 11 clusters, as per Mahalanobis D2 analysis using Tocher’s method with cluster III having the maximum number of genotypes (8), followed by cluster I, II, IV and V with 6 genotypes, 2 genotypes were grouped in cluster VII and XI and the remaining clusters with 1 genotype each. Diversity analysis showed grouping of genotypes in 11 clusters, which will help in selection of genetically divergent parents for exploitation in hybridization programme and would constitute an essential gene pool for future breeding programme.

Genetic diversity analysis in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) germplasms

Evaluating genetic diversity in germplasm resources is a prerequisite for any effective breeding program. To classify sixty-six sunflower germplasm and seven checks, the study was conducted during 2020. The analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all characters. Divergence analysis using hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) has been performed to effectively determining genetically distant parents, which could be used for hybridization. The HCA based on first three PCs grouped the lines into 8 clusters, where cluster IV had maximum number of genotypes. Additionally, it signifies that cluster I and cluster VIII are highly diverse, whereas cluster V and VI are less diverse.

Assessment of genetic diversity for heat tolerance in advanced breeding lines of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em.Thell.)

Food security and public health are becoming major concerns for the global leaders due to climate change. The uneven distribution of rainfall and temperature has increased the global food demand with quality food. The current study was carried out for analysis of genetic diversity among 64 bread wheat genotypes for heat tolerance based on 21 morpho-physiological traits. The sixty four genotypes were grouped into five different clusters. Maximum number of genotypes was in cluster V (17) with lowest intra cluster distance (3.866) followed by cluster II (15), I (14), III and IV (each having 9 genotypes). Genotypes of cluster IV and I were more genetically diverse due to maximum inter cluster distance between them (8.873). The cluster II was designated as “highly tolerant” while cluster I and V as “moderately tolerant” and “highly sensitive” respectively, to heat stress on the basis of comparison of cluster mean values for yield and its major contributing traits like, peduncle length, flag leaf length, grain filling duration and so on. By collating their mean performance, the genotypes P-13348, P-13676, P-13820 and P- 14114 were found to be more heat tolerant in cluster II. Similarly, genotypes P-13808, P-13638 and P-14050 were found more moderately tolerant among cluster I genotypes and genotypes P-14106, P-14112 and P-14121 were most sensitive among the cluster V genotypes to terminal heat stress.

Metroglyph analysis on genetic diversity in germplasm accessions of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Astudyon genetic diversityin sunflower germplasmaccessions was carried out at the Oilseeds farm, Departmentof Oilseeds, TNAU, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The materials consisted of 46 germplasm accessions collected fromthe Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad. Observations on six characters viz., days to 50% flowering,plant height (cm), head diameter (cm), 100-seed weight (g), volume weight (g/100ml) and seed yield/plant (g) were recorded. Metroglyph and index score method was used to assess the genetic variability. All the accessions were grouped into nine groups. Maximum number of genotypes(11) were grouped in group IV followed by group V with nine genotypes. The cluster VIII possessed two accessions with moderate head diameter, 100-seed weight, volume weight and seed yield/plant. The genotypes belonging to the groups II, V and VIII recorded moderate seed yield/plant. The genotypes in the clusters III, VI and IX recorded high seed yield/plant. Highest index score of 16 was observed by GMU 539 in the cluster IX and the accessions GMU 520 in the cluster V and GMU 558 in the cluster IX recorded next highest index score of 15. Findings of the present study suggested that the genotypes having high index scores and belonging to different groups could be utilized in breeding programme to create high variability for various characters.

Study of Genetic Diversity in Forage Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench

Analysis of genetic divergence through Mahalanobis D2 statistics exhibited considerable genetic diversity among genotypes. The thirty genotypes of forage sorghum were grouped into 6 clusters. The cluster II (14 genotypes) and cluster I (7 genotypes) having the maximum number of genotypes. This envisaged that the genotypes grouped within a particular cluster were more or less genetically similar to each other and apparent wide diversity was mainly due to the remaining genotypes distributed over rest of the other clusters. Percent contribution and expression of characters towards the genetic divergence play an important role in selecting the superior genotypes among diverse genotypes. Plant height had maximum contribution towards the genetic divergence followed by green fodder yield, leaf stem ratio and number of leaves per plant and remaining characters noted very low contribution percent towards the genetic divergence. Maximum intra cluster distance was recorded in cluster IV, indicating greater genetic divergence between the genotypes belonging to these clusters and crosses involving genotypes viz., CSV-15, CSV-17, Pant Chari-8, CSV-16 and Pant Chari-7 are suggested. Crosses in the above combinations are expected to provide enough genetic variability to select high green fodder yield and stable segregates in the segregating generations.

Genetic Divergence Analysis in Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) by Using Morpho-agronomic Traits in Western Uttar Pradesh, India

The field experiment was conducted during 2021-22. During the study the analysis of variance for 19 diverse genotypes of Amaranthus were designed in randomized block design and revealed significant difference for all the 12 characters, this indicated the presence of wide spectrum of variability among the genotypes. The analysis of genetic divergence through Mahalanobis D2 statistics revealed that a considerable genetic diversity was found among genotypes. 19 genotypes of Amaranthus were grouped into 5 clusters. Out of these 5 clusters, Cluster II contains maximum number of genotypes that is seven, followed by cluster I which comprising six genotypes, Cluster III comprising four genotypes, whereas cluster IV and V containing only one genotype each. All the desired combinations of traits should be considered, while breeding programme for selecting high yielding genotypes and suitable for breeders to achieving improved plant type.

Genetic divergence studies for yield and its component traits in Mung bean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek)

The present investigation was carried out at Genetics and Plant Breeding (GPB) farm, College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipur during kharif 2021 using 60 genotypes of Mung bean. Mahalanobis D2 statistics was used to evaluate the diversity. A total of fourteen clusters were formed with maximum number of genotypes in cluster I i.e., 29 genotypes followed by cluster II with 17 genotypes, cluster XII with 3 genotypes, all the remaining clusters were mono genotypic. It was found that the pattern of genotype distribution into different clusters was random and unrelated to geographic diversity. Results on genotype diversity between clusters IV and IX revealed the greatest inter-cluster distances, whereas cluster XII had the greatest intra-cluster distances. The largest cluster mean for seed yield per plant was found in cluster IX. Further, maximum contribution towards divergence was by number of seeds per plant (52.49%) followed by seed yield (17.8%) and days to 50% flowering (7.34%), while minimum by pod length which had shown 0% contribution.

Genetical and Physiological Analysis for Heat Tolerance in Spring Wheat

The experiment was conducted at Agronomy field laboratory, Dept. of Agronomy and Agricultural Extension, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi during 2019-2020 to identify the diverse genotypes of wheat related to heat tolerance. Twenty wheat genotypes/lines were used as a plant materials in this experiment. The wheat genotypes/lines were evaluated in heat stress environments. Non-hierarchical clustering grouped the wheat genotypes into five clusters. The cluster II indicated the maximum number of genotypes following the cluster V, III and IV. Plant height and spikes m-2 were major traits contributed mostly towards genetic divergence. Selection of parents for these two traits has good scope to get broad spectrum of segregates. The cluster V had the highest grains spike-1, spikelet’s spike-1, 1000-grain weight, grain yield and biomass whereas canopy temperature, heading days and maturity days were lowest. Cluster I had the lowest grain yield, spikes m-2, grains spike-1, biomass and chlorophyll content, plant height, spikelet’s spike-1 and 1000-grain weight. Five pairs of clusters viz. the clusters (I and V, I and II, I and IV, III and V and IV and V) may be considered for getting more heterotic F1. The genotypes G 02 and G 11 of cluster I and genotypes G 6, G 15, G 17, G 18 and G 20 of cluster V may be considered as parents for future hybridization program to obtain diverse genotypes related to heat tolerance. J. of Sci. and Tech. Res. 3(1): 61-68, 2021

Assessment of Growth and Yield of Sweet Potato Genotypes

The experiment was conducted taking Fifteen genotypes of sweet potato were evaluated in RBD with three replications during kharif season of 2019 & 2020 at in the K.V.K Dhenkanal District ,Odisha. Among the characters studied, different high PCV and GCV were observed for characters like vine length, vine internodal length, number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant, total leaf area, number of roots per plant, root yield per plant, β-carotene content, starch content, total sugars, reducing sugars, non reducing sugars and total root yield per hectare content indicating high variability available in the germplasm for these characters for further improvement. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for characters vine length, vine internodal length, number of branches per plant, length of leaf lobe, number of leaves per plant, total leaf area, root girth, root yield per plant, β-carotene content, starch content, total sugars, reducing sugars, non reducing sugars and total root yield per hectare indicated that these characters were least influenced by the environmental effects, and these characters were governed by additive genes and selection will be rewarding for improvement of such traits. The total root yield per hectare (t/ha) had significant positive correlation with traits like number of branches per plant, number of roots per plant, root girth, root yield per plant and β-carotene content suggesting the importance of these traits in selection for yield and can be identified as yield attributing characters for the genetic improvement of yield in sweet potato. The total root yield per hectare (t/ha) was result of direct effect of number of branches per plant, number of roots per plant, root length, root yield per plant, starch content and reducing sugars. The high direct effect of these traits appeared to be the main factor for their strong association with total root yield per hectare. Analysis for divergence using D2 statistic revealed highly significant differences for different traits, grouping the 15 genotypes into 6 clusters. Cluster II had the maximum number of genotypes (8) followed by cluster I (7). Maximum inter cluster distance was observed between clusters III and VI while the intra cluster distance was maximum in cluster II and VI. Highest percent contribution to divergence came from β-carotene content, starch content, total sugar, total leaf area, root dry matter content, number of leaves per plant, root yield per plant, petiole length, root girth, vine length and reducing sugar suggested that selection of one or two elite genotypes from divergent (II & VI) and (III & VI) clusters based on the above characters and crossing would result in more heterosis and novel hybrid.

Genetic Parameters and Divergence Studies for Gall Midge Incidence and Yield Components in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The present investigation was carried out with 30 genotypes of rice (Oryza sativa L.) to study the variability and genetic divergence for yield contributing characters and gall midge incidence at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Warangal, Telangana during kharif, 2021 (July–November) in RBD replicated twice for eight quantitative traits. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was slightly higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all traits, indicating that environmental influences affect the expression of these traits. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as % of the mean values were observed for 1000 grain weight and number of grains panicle-1 suggesting that selection for the improvement of these traits may be rewarding. The PCA analysis showed that first three principal components accounted for about 91.57%. Based on D2 studies, 30 genotypes were grouped into seven clusters with the cluster I (13) containing maximum number of genotypes followed by cluster III (9) and cluster II (4). Highest inter cluster distances were observed between the clusters IV and VII (1272.49) followed by IV and V (1097.39), VI and VII (1013.83) and II and VII (944.20) indicating the importance of the genotypes present in these clusters for exploiting heterosis for the desirable traits of these clusters. Days to 50% flowering (27.58%),1000-grain weight (27.36%) and plant height (27.36%) were found to be the most contributing traits towards total genetic diversity, which could be given due importance by the breeders for development of superior rice genotypes under crop improvement programme.

Genetic variability for quantitative and quality traits in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp

The field experiment comprised of  30 cowpea genotypes were evaluated for genetic variability for important quantitative and quality traits during the Summer 2019 season. Analysis of variance showed that there was  significant differences among the genotypes evaluated for all the characters studied. A  high value of phenotypic coefficient of variation than genotypic coefficient of variation was  observed for all the characters which revealed the influence of environment for phenotypic expression of the traits. High heritability and the high genetic advance were  observed for days to 50% flowering, leaf width, the number of nodes on main stem, the number of main branches, the number of pods per plant, length of pod, the number of seeds per pod, test weight, seed yield per plant, fat content, lignin content and host preference mechanism of pulse beetle on the grain of cowpea indicating that the characters are governed by additive gene action and the characters which can be improved by simple selection. On Mahalanobis D2 statistics, the genotypes were grouped into four clusters. A  maximum number of genotypes was observed in  cluster I with 16 genotypes followed by clusters II and III with 8 genotypes each and cluster IV with solitary genotype. On the basis of divergence classes studied the genotypes viz., PMCP-1021, CP-20, CP-25, CP-26, CP-7, CP-2-1, CP-15, CP-9-1, CP-17, CP-2-1, PCP-1809, PCP-1124, PCP-1123, Phule Rukmini and Phule Pandhari can be used for the further breeding programme.   Keywords: Cowpea, Genetic diversity, Heritability, Genetic advance

Genetic diversity study in soybean [Glycine max L. Merrill] based on agro- morphological characters

Using Mahalanobis D2statistics, the level of genetic diversity among soybean genotypes based on 12 agro-morphological traits was investigated in this study. A total of 100 soybean genotypes were grouped into six clusters. Cluster I had the maximum number of genotypes (53 genotypes), followed by cluster II (37 genotypes), cluster III (6 genotypes), clusters IV and V (1 genotype each), cluster VI (2 genotypes). Clusters I and VI had the greatest inter-cluster distance (117618.10). Intra-cluster distance ranged between 0.00 and 9830.83. The biggest contribution to total divergence came from character plot yield (25.0 %). Cluster VI had the highest cluster mean values for yield and its component traits. Based on inter-cluster distance, cluster mean values, and mean per se performance, it is recommended to utilize genotypes of cluster I and cluster VI, I and III, III and IV, II and VI, respectively, for future hybridization programs to develop high yielding genotypes. Keywords: soybean, clusters, genetic diversity

Determination of Genetic Divergence in Okra Genotypes [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench

The investigation was executed at Main Experimental Station, Department of Vegetable Science, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya during Kharif, 2019 in Randomized Block Design with three replications comprising thirty -six genotypes of okra collected from various sources to study the existence of genetic divergence among the germplasm by Mahalanobis D2 statistics. The germplasm was grouped into six clusters. Out of six clusters, cluster 1 contained maximum number of genotypes (22) followed by cluster VI (5), cluster II (3) and cluster III (2) Cluster IV (2) cluster V (2). The minimum intra cluster diversity was found for cluster III (8.39) and maximum intra-cluster distance was exhibited for cluster I (16.95). The highest inter-cluster distance was recorded between cluster I and III (30.83) preceded by cluster III and VI (30.15) and cluster 1 and V (24.89), it suggested that the genotypes of these two (cluster I and III) clusters are genetically very dissimilar to each other. The minimum inter-cluster distance was found between cluster IV and V (13.08) followed by cluster III and IV (14.24) and cluster II and IV (14.62). Highest per cent contribution in favour of total genetic diversity was showed by total fruit yields per plant (75.08%) followed by average fruit weight (12.38). Each clusters have higher mean values for different traits and the genotypes of cluster I followed by II and VI have more mean value for traits studies and deserve to be mentioned as important clusters of genotypes which could be use for further yield improvement plan of okra.

Characterization of diverse sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) panel through morphological and molecular marker analysis

Sesame is one of the most important and ancient oilseeds crop with high and good quality oils content. Present Investigation was carried out for the assessment of the genetic diversity using 33 sesame genotypes through morphologically and 21 SSR markers. In the morphological diversity analysis, nine clusters were observed with 33 genotypes using all phenological, yield and its contributing attributes. Among the 9 clusters, cluster II had maximum number of genotypes (14) followed by cluster III (6), cluster IV (5), cluster I (3), cluster V, VI, VII, VIII and IX had one genotype to each cluster. The highest inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster VI and I (386.70), which indicates maximum diversity between the genotypes of these clusters, could be further used in crossing programme. However, SSR markers grouped 33 genotypes into six clusters at 0.51 dissimilarity index. In which cluster V had maximum (7) genotypes and cluster VI had minimum (3) genotypes. The results of genetic diversity tallied with the morphological diversity, such as BRT-04 are the farthest from BRT-08, BRT-09 and BRT-10, however BRT-08, BRT-09 and BRT-10 are in the same cluster in both morphological and molecular diversity analysis. The UPGMA dendrogramwas constructed using Jaccard's dissimilarity coefficients based on SSR markers score on thirty-three genotypes. Polymorphism information content (PIC) value varied between 0.15 and 0.36 with an average of 0.27. The genotypes from the distinct clusters can be utilized for hybridization programme to recover heterotic pools.

Genetic Diversity Analysis for Seed Yield and Its Component Characters in Urdbean (Vigna Mou (L.) Hper)

Forty-six genotypes were subjected to genetic diversity studies for seed yield and its component characters using Mahalanobis’s D2 statistic. The analysis of variance indicated significant differences among 46 genotypes for all the 14 characters. Forty-six genotypes were grouped into nine clusters, out of which cluster-II had the maximum number of genotypes (16), followed by cluster-III (10), cluster-I (9) and cluster- IV (6). The rest of the clusters i.e. cluster-V, VI, VII, VIII and IX, each possessed single genotype. The intercluster distances surpassed the intra-cluster distances, expressing existence of stupendous diversity among the entries. The cluster-III and IV have the greatest diversity among their genotypic groups consequently these genotypes can potentially be utilized in varietal development programmes. Highest inter-cluster distance was noted between cluster-IV and VII followed by cluster-VII and VIII, and cluster-VI and VII, indicating ample of diversity available among them, Therefore, the genotypes of these clusters can be used as parents for crossing in hybridization programme to obtain desirable and excellent segregants. Protein content was the greatest contributor towards genetic divergence followed by number of clusters per plant and number of pods per cluster, suggesting direct selection of these characters. Bangladesh J. Bot. 51(2): 223-228, 2022 (June)

Deciphering genetic diversity in ‘Antenna Panel’ genotypes of IRRI’s Global Rice Array-IV for yield traits in Indo-Gangetic Plains

International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has launched a flagship project-4 consisting of 58 rice genotypes ‘Antenna Panel’ (a panel of diverse genotypes having various beneficial genes introgressed) from the Global Rice Array-IV (GRA-IV). Exploring diversity provides an opportunity for plant breeders to develop resilient crops and analysis of diversity is important for any crop improvement programme. Mahalanobis’s distance matrix thus obtained was further subjected to clustering by the UPGMA hierarchical agglomerative clustering method to decipher the degree of genetic divergence in the ‘Antenna Panel’ genotypes of IRRI’s Global Rice Array-IV. On the basis of D2 values, rice genotypes were grouped into eleven clusters. Cluster I was the largest and contained the maximum number of genotypes. The inter-cluster distance ranged from 5.8  between cluster I and cluster VIII to 18.8 between cluster V and cluster X. The highest inter cluster distance was recorded between clusters V and X (18.80) followed by clusters II and V (17.78). The intra cluster distance was found to be maximum in cluster II (5.20) followed by cluster V (5.01), and cluster I (4.25). The character days to 50% flowering (33.1%) showed a maximum contribution followed by plant height (30.2%), grain yield  (10.3%), the number of grains per panicle (10.00%), panicle length  (7.3 %), the number of tillers per plant (4.8%) and 1000-grain weight (4.3%). If a superior genotype with an ample amount of genetic divergence and well adapted in India’s Indo-Gangetic Plains can be selected, from these global databases then it can be of great help to break the stagnation of yield by improving the genetic potential of the existing rice varieties through hybridization and exploitation of heterosis. In this context, if hybridization is attempted between the genotypes included in the cluster V (SUPA, ZANTON::IRGC 31248-1 and URAIBOOL::IRGC 52785-1) and cluster X (Hokkai 188, M202) greater heterosis can be expected. Keywords: Rice genotypes, Genetic Divergence, IRRI, D2

Analysis of Genetic Diversity by D2-Statistics using Morpho-Physiological Traits of Late Sown Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The sixty-bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes were distributed among the seven clusters obtained using D2 statistics Euclidean distance method on the basis of observations taken on various morphological and physiological traits namely days to heading, days to anthesis, days to physiological maturity, grain filling duration, plant height, number of effective tillers, thousand grain weight, grain yield, chlorophyll fluorescence and canopy temperature. Results obtained revealed that the cluster IV had maximum number of genotypes i.e.,17 genotypes followed by cluster I (13 genotypes), Cluster IV (10 genotypes), cluster VII, II, III and VI (9, 5, 3 and 3 respectively). The highest inter cluster genetic distance existed between cluster I and VI (6.559) and the average intra cluster distance between the genotypes of cluster VII (3.817) was maximum. Therefore, genotypes in these clusters may be used to produce the superior hybrids and transgressive segregants. For grain yield and effective tillers had highest mean value in cluster VI. Cluster III had highest mean value for 1000-grain weight and lowest values for plant height indicating genotypes were short. Traits such as days to anthesis followed by canopy temperature, days to maturity, grain filling duration, chlorophyll fluorescence and grain yield per meter contributing a total of 68.1 per cent to the total divergence.

Genetic Diversity Analysis among Genotypes of Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) for Yield and Its component Traits under Timely Sown Conditions

Genetic diversity analysis for yield and its component traits among 60 genotypes of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under timely sown conditions distributed into seven clusters via D2 statistics using Euclidean distance method which revealed that the cluster IV had maximum number of genotypes followed by cluster II, Cluster VI, cluster I, cluster V and, cluster III and VII. The highest inter-cluster genetic distance existed between cluster IV and VII and the average intra cluster distance between the genotypes of cluster V was maximum. Therefore, genotypes in these clusters may be used to produce the superior hybrids and transgressive segregants. For grain yield and effective tillers had highest mean value in cluster V and cluster VI. Cluster V and VII had highest mean value for 1000-grain weight and plant height respectively. Traits such as by plant height followed by canopy temperature, days to maturity, days to anthesis and grain filling duration contributing total of 50 per cent to the total divergence.