Study on genetic diversity in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L) 32 genotypes

Abstract

This study assessed thirty-two sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) genotypes, including two control varieties, to analyse genetic diversity. The research was conducted during the Kharif season (2024-2025) at the College of Agriculture’s Research Farm in Pune. Observations were made on ten quantitative traits, and the Tocher clustering method categorized the genotypes into ten distinct groups. Among these, Cluster I and III were the largest, containing 10 and 8 genotypes, respectively, followed by Cluster II (5 genotypes) and Cluster IV (3 genotypes). The remaining clusters (V to X) each consisted of a single genotype, resulting in zero intra-cluster distance. By evaluating cluster mean values, the most genetically diverse genotypes can be identified for future hybridization programs.