Genetic divergence studies in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]

Abstract

Genetic diversity using Mahalanobis D-square (D2) techniques was studied for yield and yield contributing traits of 40 genotypes of pigeonpea. The analysis revealed a wide genetic diversity among the traits studied, as indicated by the formation of eleven distinct clusters. The analysis demonstrated that the greatest genetic divergence observed between Cluster III and Cluster VIII (553.38), signifying the highest genetic variation. Significant distances were followed by Cluster II and Cluster X (524.78), Cluster X and Cluster XI (428.09), Cluster III and Cluster IX (411.75), Cluster II and Cluster III (330.98), Cluster III and Cluster V (307.11), Cluster V and Cluster VII (236.07), Cluster III and Cluster VI (188.60), Cluster II and Cluster IV (153.62. In contrast, the least genetic divergence was found between Cluster I and Cluster II (135.89). The highest intra-cluster distance was noted in Cluster VII (91.86).