Genetic diversity studies in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) under coastal salinity conditions of Karaikal

Abstract

Genetic diversity among 33 cassava genotypes was worked out using Mahalanobis D statistic. Based on D2analysis, the genotypes were grouped into eight clusters, where the cluster VII possessed higher number (10) of genotypes followed by cluster I (7), cluster IV (5), cluster VIII (3), cluster II (2), cluster III (2), cluster IV (2) and cluster V (2). Clustering pattern revealed that geographical diversity was not associated with genetic diversity that is, genotypes collected from same location were grouped into different clusters.