Vol. 12, Issue 12 (2023)

Author(s):
SS Kamble, Dr. DK Patil, Dr. VK Gite and VB Rathod

Abstract:
The present investigation was undertaken to examine the genetic divergence in 41 germplasm lines including one check viz.BM-2003-2 for 11 yield and yield contributing characters using Mahalanobis D² statistics for selection of suitable parents that can be utilized in hybridization programme. The experiment was carried out at Agricultural Research Station, Badnapur during kharif 2016-17. Observations were recorded on 11 characters viz. days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of clusters per plant, number of pods per cluster, number of pods per plant, pod length, number of seeds per pod, 100 seed weight, protein content and seed yield per plant. All the 41 genotypes evaluated were grouped in to seven clusters. Cluster I with 22 genotypes emerged as largest cluster followed by cluster IV and clusters VI with six genotypes each and cluster V with four genotypes. The clusters II, III and VII had single genotype. The maximum intra clusters distance was observed for cluster V followed by cluster VI, cluster IV and cluster I. Suggesting the genotypes present in these clusters possessing varied genetic architecture and might have originated from different genetic pool. The maximum inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster VII and cluster VI, suggesting that the genetic architecture of the genotypes in one cluster differ entirely from those included in other clusters. The crosses involving parents from these divergent clusters are expected to yield good amount of heterosis in F₁ and desirable segregants and genetic variability in subsequent generations. Among the eleven characters, the pods per plant contributed maximum amount towards divergence.