Estimation of variability and genetic diversity in different genotypes of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.)

Abstract

Pearl millet holds fourth rank among important cereal crops such as rice, wheat, maize etc. It is cultivated as dual-purpose crop for food and fodder hence it gives live hood security to millions of farmers. This study aims for estimation of genetic variability in genotypes of pearl millet. Its measures allelic richness, expected heterozygosity and percent polymorphic loci. Present investigation studied 50 genotypes of pearl millet evaluated in randomized block design with two replications in kharif-2021 at bajara research scheme, College of Agriculture, Dhule (MS). All 50 lines were evaluated for different morphological and agronomical traits. The clustering pattern shows that there were 12 clusters form among this 50 accessions of pearl millet. Among them cluster IX and XII having maximum genetic distance hence they show maximum diversity. As the diversity is more, more will be the heterosis so the genotypes viz., ICMB-13444, ICMB-10889 and ICMB-9544 can incorporate as a parent in hybrid seed production to maximize the yield of crops.