Genetic diversity in land races of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.)

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the genetic diversity among sixteen pigeonpea land races for eleven characters. Highly significant differences existed among the genotypes for all the eleven characters studied. Phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV) were found to be higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the traits. PCV and GCV values were low to moderate for the traits viz., plant height, the number of primary branches per plant, 100 seed weight and single plant yield. High heritability was observed for days to 50% flowering, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, 100 seed weight, shelling percent, days to maturity, single plant yield and seed fibre content. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for 100 seed weight and single plant yield indicating the additive gene effect, hence further improvement of these characters would be possible through direct selection. The genotypes were grouped into seven distinct clusters upon cluster analysis based on eleven traits. Cluster III was the largest and consisted of seven genotypes indicating considerable variability among the land races of pigeonpea. The genotypes with specific traits could be selected and used in the crossing programme to improve the yield and protein content in pigeonpea.

Keywords

• Pigeonpea
• genetic variability
• genetic advance as per cent of mean
• heritability
• quantitative traits