Selection of Parents for developing high yielding rice hybrids through Diversity analysis in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

The investigation was carried out to explore and assess the genetic divergence in 85 genotypes of rice and two checks by employing D2 statistic on the basis of grain yield and other important traits. The Mahalanobis’ D2 analysis grouped 87 genotypes into ten distinct clusters. Maximum numbers of 21 genotypes were present in cluster IV and least of 1 genotype with X cluster. The highest intra cluster distance was 1337.43 for cluster VII and maximum inter-cluster distance was recorded between cluster X and I (75658.09) followed by cluster X and II (63358.13). The genotypes from these distant clusters could be crossed to attain maximum heterosis with the selection of parents based on spikelet fertility % and panicle length which are highest contributors towards the diversity explored in current study.