Genetic diversity studies on leaf yield and its component traits in FCV tobacco (Nicotiana tobacum L.) germplasm collection

Abstract

The present study was aimed to assess the extent of genetic diversity with sixty-six genotypes of FCV tobacco (Nicotiana tobacum L.) by using Mahalanobis’ D² statistics at AINP (Tobacco), Zonal Agriculture and Horticultural Research Station, UAHS, Shivamogga, Karnataka during Kharif-2019-20 in RCBD design with two replications. The 66 genotypes were grouped into eight clusters based on D² analysis. The cluster II had maximum with 29 genotypes followed by clusters I, III, V, and IV had the minimum with 16, 16, 8 and 5 genotypes respectively and remaining clusters were solitary. The highest inter cluster distance was observed between cluster VI and VIII and the lowest between clusters II and VIII. Cluster V had exhibited highest intra cluster distance and the lowest was observed in cluster VI, VII and VII. The character days to flowering, top grade equivalent and green leaf yield showed maximum contribution towards total genetic divergence. On the basis of cluster mean, cluster VI was superior for plant height, number of leaves per plant and leaf length. The maximum leaf width was observed in cluster VIII, while cluster VII sowed superiority for days to flowering. The cluster IV showed highest green leaf yield, cured leaf yield and top grade equivalent. Thus, the genotypes involved in these clusters may be taken into consideration for better parents for generating variability for the respective characters and their rational improvement.