Studies genetic divergence for yield and its component traits in pea (Pisum sativum L.) in sodic condition

Abstract

Pea (Pisum sativum L.) 2n = 2x = 14, belongs to the family Fabaceae. It originated in central Asia, the Near East, Abyssinia and Mediterranean. In India huge range of variability is available in the land races or cultivars, in terms of qualitative as well as quantitative characters of pea. Analysis of Variance in the present investigation indicated that the genotypes evaluated differed significantly among all the treatment for all the twelve traits. The 35 genotypes of pea were grouped into 6 clusters. The different clusters showed considerable differences in intra-cluster group means for 12 characters. Maximum cluster mean for green pod yield per plant was observed in cluster VI followed by cluster III. All the cluster from cluster I and VI had in general medium mean performance for most of the characters exhibiting extreme cluster means for none of the characters under study. Maximum cluster means for green pod yield per plant was observed in cluster III followed by cluster I and VI. All cluster showed maximum mean values for plant height. The minimum group mean value showed for branches per plant in all the clusters. The minimum inter- cluster distance was recorded between cluster III and I (51.922). The higher inter cluster distance indicated greater genetic divergence between the genotypes of those clusters, while lower inter-cluster values between the clusters suggested that the genotype of the clusters were not much genetically diverse from each other.