Assessment of genetic divergence for yield and physiological attributes in groundnut germplasm (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Abstract

Divergence was studied among fifty-two genotypes based on data of thirteen agronomical and three physiological attributes viz. leaf area index, chlorophyll content index and canopy temperature. The analysis of variance indicated significant differences among genotypes for all the sixteen attributes studied. The genotypes were grouped into nine clusters. The mode of distribution of genotypes to various clusters was at random suggesting that there is no relationship between geographical distribution and genetic diversity. The cluster size varied from single to 29 genotypes. Plant height (21.87%) followed by pod yield (21.27%) contributed maximum to the total divergence. The highest inter-cluster distance (145.6) was recorded between cluster V (TAG-24) and VIII (AK-14). Crosses between these genotypes would be more rewarding. The diversity among the genotypes measured by intra-cluster & inter cluster distance was adequate for improvement of Groundnut by hybridization and selection. Based on intra and inter-cluster distances and cluster means, parents were identified for further breeding programmes for isolation of useful transgressive segregation.