Multi-environment genetic divergence analysis in barnyard millet germplasm (Echinochloa frumentacea L.) for grain yield with its contributing traits and nutritional contents

Abstract

The current experiment was aimed to quantify the nature of genetic divergence present in 50 barnyard millet accessions having five released check varieties namely, VL 29, VL 172, VL 207, TNAU 101 and K-1. Genotypes were grouped into total nine different clusters with regard of 12 biometrical traits by using Mahalanobis D2 analysis. Cluster II found the biggest cluster involving 17 different genotypes of barnyard millet collected from different source, followed by cluster number V which involved twelve genotypes of distinct origin. Cluster number VI and VII contained six different barnyard genotypes each in respective cluster. Cluster IV had the four different barnyard millet genotypes whereas cluster I included only two genotypes of barnyard millet. This pointed out wider diversity in terms of genetic parameters between the genotypes. Maximum intra-cluster distance was observed in cluster IV (D=2.96) followed by cluster VI (D =2.91), cluster VII (D=2.69), cluster V (D=2.57), cluster II (D=2.4) and cluster I (D=0.28). Hence, selection of accessions as parental material from these genetically diversified clusters for improvement programmes could result in heterotic hybrids and could outcome desirable amount of genetic variability in barnyard millet.