EVALUATION OF GENETIC DIVERGENCE IN WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.) GERMPLASMS

Abstract

In the present study, sixty-four genotypes of wheat germplasms were evaluated for assessing genetic divergence for
11 different characters across six environments for exploitation in a breeding programme aimed at improving
yield potential of wheat by using Mahalanobis D2 statistics .The germplasms were grouped into nine clusters
suggesting considerable amount of genetic diversity in the material. The cluster II had maximum 14 genotypes
followed by VIII and III having 12 and 11 genotypes, respectively. These clusters having maximum number of
genotypes, reflecting narrow genetic diversity. The intra-cluster D2 value ranged from 7.36 to 22.63 while, intercluster D2
value ranged from 13.69 to 93.06. The maximum intra cluster distance was exhibited by cluster V
followed by cluster VI and cluster IX. The maximum inter-cluster D2 value was observed between V and IX
followed by cluster V and VI and cluster I and V. Cluster V had least number of two genotypes and emerged with
contained highest cluster mean value for plant height, total number of tillers/plant and good value for test weight,
ear length and biological yield/plant. Cluster VII has highest mean value for grains/spike and good value for ear
length and test weight and cluster VIII had highest mean value for biological yield/plant, grain yield/plant and
good value for ear length, total number of tillers/plant and test weight. Cluster IX showed high mean value for
grain yield/plant, total number of tillers/plant and test weight. Maximum contribution toward the total divergence
was exhibited by days to heading followed by plant height and number of grains/spike and minimum by total
number of tillers/plant. Cluster V and IX showing maximum inter cluster distance and crossing of genotypes
DBW-11 and HP1633 from cluster V with five genotypes from cluster IX suggested for improving effective tillers/
plant, total number of tillers/plant, test weight and ear length enhancing the yield and chances of getting better
recombinants in segregating generations. Noteworthy is that cluster IV, VII and VIII reflected high cluster means
for seed yield per plant, effective tillers/plant, total number of tillers/plant and test weight and these clusters can
be successfully utilized in hybridization programmes to get desirable transgressive segregants.