Cluster and principal component analysis (PCA) in ashwagandha [Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal] for root traits

Abstract

Present study of the research is based on genetic diversity in ashwagandha [Withania somnifera L. Dunal]. This study contains 43 ashwagandha germplasm accessions including 3 checks JA 20, JA 134 and RVA 100. The experiment was conducted at Research Cum Instructional Farm, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, IGKV Raipur (C.G.) during rabi 2018-19 and 2019-2020. Experiment was conducted in RCBD design with 2 replications. Most of the traits were found highly significant and shows the variability among the germplasm accessions. In genetic diversity study germplasm categorized into 6 clusters, highest cluster genetic distance was observed in between cluster V and cluster IV (105.4). It’s implies that the hybridizations strategy including these genotypes from the clusters gives superior occurrence of the segregates. Highest number of genotypes occurs in cluster I with 18 genotypes. Based on PCA analysis component explained over 83.27% cumulative variables. PCA 1 has high percentage of variables (28.69%).The first PCA account for the most of the variability of the data.