Vol. 12, Issue 7 (2023)

Author(s):
Aruna Devi Ahirwar and Rajani Bisen

Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted with 42 including two check Niger breeding lines to study the morphological characterization using self-assumed description and nominal variables of morphological characters, which were used as an input for Nbclust hierarchical cluster analysis in which clustering was done using Ward’s minimum variance method and Euclidean’s method of genetic distance was derived. In this study, Niger breeding lines were grouped into five clusters based on analysis of divergence at the genetic distance. They revealed a considerable amount of genetic diversity. The largest cluster among all is cluster IV. Cluster IV has 20 lines, cluster V has 16, Cluster III, II & I has contained 2 lines each. Whereas, morphological characterization observation was recorded on 13 traits viz., leaf color, leaf shape, leaf serration of margin, leaf angle of branching, stem hairiness, stem color, color of ray florets, color of disc florets, plant branching habit, pollen color, seed color, seed shape and seed texture, etc.