Genetic divergence of black gram genotypes (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper)

Abstract

Divergence analysis was carried out among hundred black gram genotypes using Mahalanobis D2 analysis. Among ten characters studied, seed yield per plant (g) contributes maximum to the genetic diversity (33.31%). Black gram genotypes were grouped into 14 clusters. Among this, cluster I had maximum number of genotypes. Maximum intra-cluster distance was found in cluster II and the maximum inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster IV and XI. Cluster XI (VBG 19-002) showed the highest cluster mean for seed yield per plant (g), the number of branches per plant and the total number of pods. Cluster IV (VBG 18-076) had superior mean for days to 50% flowering, plant height (cm) and pod length (cm). Hence, hybridization of genotypes VBG 18-076 (Cluster IV) and Mash 114 (Cluster XII) with VBG 19-002 (Cluster XI) could give wide range of variability in segregating population.

Keywords

• black gram
• genetic diversity
• intra and inter-cluster distance
• cluster mean