Assessment of genetic diversity through D2 analysis in underutilized indigenous potential grain amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.) genotypes of India

Abstract

Genetic diversity analysis was coordinated at Center for Crop Improvement (24°19ˈ N latitude; 27°19ˈ E longitude and at altitude of 154.52 meters above the sea level) Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, District: Banaskantha (Gujarat). In this study, 46 genotypes of amaranth were evaluated for eleven yields and yield accredited traits and grouped into twelve clusters through Mahalanobis D2 analysis. Cluster II contained maximum number of genotype (10), Cluster I (9), Cluster III (8), Cluster IV (6) and Cluster V has 3 genotypes. Clusters VII, VIII and X have (2 in each) and Clusters VI, IX, XI and XII (1in each case). Among them, clusters VI, IX, XI and XII were monogenotypic, rest cluster I, II, III, IV, V, VII, VIII and X were polygenotypic based on genetic divergence. Intra-cluster distance was highest in cluster VII (63.27) followed by cluster V (58.82) and cluster II (56.20), suggesting there is a lot of extent for swapping of genes among genotypes within these clusters. The inter cluster values ranged from 71.00 to 874.76. Concerning to inter cluster distance the cluster X and cluster I were most diverse with each other as distance between them was 874.76. It is advantageous for genotypes from clusters viewing high inter-cluster distance (cluster X and XI) for advance crop hybridization programme to generate wide range of transgressive segregants in population to develop high yielding grain amaranth varieties. Contribution to total divergence was higher from Leaf area per plant (cm2), seed yield per plant (g), Days to maturity.