Estimation of genetic diversity for yield and yield attributing traits in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out in Agricultural and Horticultural Research Station, Kattalagere. The nature and magnitude of genetic divergence were estimated in 23 rice genotypes in six environments using Mahalanobis D2 – statistics by considering 13 quantitative characters. D2 analysis revealed considerable amount of diversity in the material. The genotypes were grouped into six clusters. Cluster I constituted maximum number of genotypes (16). The genotypes falling in cluster II had the maximum divergence. The inter cluster distance was maximum between cluster I and IV (10.34) followed by cluster III and V (9.82), suggesting that the genotypes constituted in these clusters may be used as parents for future breeding programme. Traits like; days to maturity, plant height(cm), Number of grains per panicle, Test weight (g), Harvest Index (%), Days to 50% flowering, Panicle length (cm) were the major contributors to genetic divergence.