Genetic divergence study in greengram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek]

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken to obtain information on the nature and extent of genetic diversity among 60 greengram genotypes for yield related traits and quality traits by using Mahalanobis’s D2 statistics. The genotypes were grouped into eleven clusters. Cluster I was found to be the largest with 38 genotypes followed by cluster V with 13 genotypes and all the other clusters were found to be solitary, each containing a single genotype. Clusters VIII and XI had the maximum inter-cluster distance, followed by clusters IV and XI. Cluster XI had the highest mean values for yield and other yield attributing traits. Iron content contributed high towards total genetic diversity followed by protein content and test weight. Based on the mean performance and diversity studies, the genotypes COGG 18-17, LGG 460, Daftri vikas and IPM 1603-3 were found to be the best for further yield improvement in greengram. Utilizing the genotypes from the more divergent clusters as parents in breeding programmes will yield relatively good amount of heterosis in F1 and high frequency of transgressive segregants and genetic variability in subsequent generations can be acquired.

Keywords

• d2 statistic
• cluster analysis
• genetic divergence
• greengram
• tocher’s method.