Vol. 11, Issue 4 (2022)

Author(s):
Shweta, Rahul Yadav, Dr. HG Prakash, Raj Kumar and Smriti Varghese

Abstract:
Multivariate analysis is a crucial statistical tool which enables us to easily assess critical polygenic characters which are of great importance in a plant breeding programme. The present experiment was conducted during Kharif 2020 and 2021, with 50 germplasm accessions of finger millet at C.S.A. University of Agriculture & Technology, Kanpur in a randomized block design. The present investigation was carried out to assess the extent of genetic diversity analysis to identify the superior genotypes for yield and protein content. The observations for fifteen characters were recorded as well as multivariate technique; cluster analysis was applied. The fifty genotypes were grouped into eight distinct clusters on the basis of Euclidean distance. Cluster IV included maximum number of genotypes (fifteen) followed by Cluster I with nine genotypes; Cluster III with seven genotypes; Cluster VIII with five genotypes, Cluster VII with two genotypes and Cluster II, Cluster V, Cluster VI with four genotypes each, indicating wide diversity. The maximum inter-cluster distances for grain yield were recorded between Cluster IV and VIII followed by Cluster III and VIII, Cluster I and VII, Cluster II and VII and Cluster V and IV indicating the presence of wide diversity between these clusters therefore the use of genotypes from these clusters would serve as potential parents for hybridization. Plant height contributed the most towards genetic divergence in fifty genotypes of finger millet, indicating the presence of wide variability for this trait among the studied genotypes. Cluster III had highest maximum cluster means for most of the desirable characters viz., harvest index, 1000grain weight, protein content and grain yield per plant. Considering the high inter-cluster distances, cluster means and mean performance of genotypes, crossing of entry of clusters III with entries of cluster VI and VII would be fruitful for obtaining transgressive segregants for developing high yielding, high protein containing and better quality finger millet varieties.