Genetic divergence studies in niger (Guizotia abyssinica L.) genotypes

Abstract

The genetic divergence among 28 niger genotypes was assessed by employing Mahalanobis D2 analysis based on 7 characteristics. The genotypes were grouped into nine clusters. Cluster I was the largest with 14 genotypes followed by cluster II, III, IV,V,VI,VII with two genotypes in each cluster and cluster VIII and IX are solitary with single genotype in each cluster. The highest inter cluster distance was observed between cluster VIII and cluster IX followed by cluster VI and VIII suggesting more variability in genetic makeup of the genotypes included in these clusters. Cluster VIII had highest mean values for plant height, no of branches per plant, number of capsules per plant, number of sees per capsule and grain yield per hectare. Whereas, cluster IX had high mean value for days to 50 percent flowering and low mean value for grain yield per hectare. Cluster IV had highest value for days to maturity. Grain yield per hectare has contributed more towards the genetic divergence followed by number of capsules per plant.