Vol. 10, Issue 12 (2021)

Author(s):
Uike AR, Dodake SS and Shamkuwar SG

Abstract:
Wheat is primarily cultivated in rainfed conditions and production is frequently affected by water and heat stresses. Thus, for sustainable wheat production and food security, we require water efficient wheat varieties. Therefore, the present study was conducted with objectives to estimate the genetic diversity in bread wheat. The experiment was conducted with 54 bread wheat genotypes including three checks in RBD with two replications. On the basis of D² values the genotypes were grouped into six clusters. Cluster I was with 49 genotypes, emerged as the largest cluster. The clusters II, III, IV, V and VI were found to be mono genotypic. The maximum inter cluster distance was seen between cluster (IV and VI) followed by cluster (II and V) and cluster (II and VI). Cluster II having high cluster mean for length of peduncle, flag leaf length and number of spikelets spike^-1, whereas, cluster IV possesses high cluster mean for number of productive tillers running meter^-1 and grain yield running meter^-1. Thus the genotypes in these clusters might be used in further hybridisation programme for improvement in bread wheat.