Vol. 12, Issue 9 (2023)

Author(s):
Jnapika KH, Sarvamangala Cholin, Kulapati H, SG Gollagi, Sanjeevaraddi GR and Basavaraj Padashetti

Abstract:
The current study was conducted at the College of Horticulture in Bagalkot, Karnataka, from 2017 to 2019. Twelve cultivars of Annona, representing four distinct species, were assessed for morphological traits. On the basis of D2 values, twelve Annona genotypes were divided into four groups. The first cluster, which had cultivars No. 1, No. 2, Red Sitapahal, Island Gem, Red & Pink, Chance Seedling, Pink Mammoth, and Ramphal, contained the most cultivars (eight) of the four. The third cluster consisted of two cultivars, Arka Sahan and Atemoya x Balanagar, while clusters II and IV were solitary clusters made up of the cultivars Atemoya and Balanagar. The range of intra-cluster distance varied from a minimum of 0.00 in solitary clusters (II and IV) to a maximum of 314.43 in the first cluster, according to the assessment of inter- and intra-cluster distances using D2 for phenotypic variables. Indicating greater diversity between the cultivars belonging to clusters I and IV, the maximum inter-cluster distance was found between clusters I and IV (1567.97), while the minimum inter-cluster distance was found between clusters II and III (210.35). This higher diversity could be exploited for future hybridization programs in order to combine the desirable characters of these cultivars into a single variety.