Insight into the genetic diversity of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) genotypes through D2 analysis

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out during Rabi 2014-15 at College of Horticulture, Hiriyur, Karnataka with 62 eggplant genotypes. Mahalanobis' D2 analysis was done to study the genetic diversity among the genotypes using 12 quantitative traits. Among the different traits studied, number of primary branches/plant contributed maximum towards total genetic divergence. D2 statistic grouped the genotypes into 11 diverse clusters. The inter cluster D2 value was maximum (3128.62) between cluster IX and XI which indicates that these clusters are diverse from each other. Crossing between the superior genotypes of above diverse cluster pairs may provide desirable transgressive segregants for developing high yielding varieties. Five genotypes namely R-2585, IIHR-355, Arka Kusumaker, IC420590 and R-2582 formed solitary clusters which hints at their uniqueness for most of the traits. Based on cluster mean scoring, cluster II ranked first indicating the presence of elite genotypes, which includes Punjab Barsati, IC104083, IVBL-9, Lal Gulab, IC90785, IC333527, Arka Abilash, IIHR-7 and Arka Kranti. So these genotypes can be extensively used for further breeding programme to generate new material.

Keywords

• brinjal
• d2 analysis
• eggplant
• genetic diversity