Genetic diversity studies in kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum L.)

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken to assess genetic diversity in seventy genotypes of kodo millet. The analysis of variance revealed the presence of significant variation among the genotypes for all 13 characters. Higher genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV), heritability and genetic advance as per cent mean were recorded for thumb raceme length, number of productive tillers per plant, length of panicle, raceme length and grain yield per plant, indicating that simple selection could be practised for improving these traits. Seventy genotypes were grouped into seven different clusters on the basis of magnitude of D2 values by Mahalanobis D2 analysis. Cluster I had 51 genotypes followed by cluster II with 14 genotypes, while clusters III, IV, V, VI and VII were mono genotypic. The inter–cluster distance was high between clusters II and III and therefore it is suggested to use these genotypes as parents for hybridization to evolve potential segregants.

Keywords

• diversity
• kodo millet
• gcv
• pcv
• heritability