Genetic divergence in Lehsua (Cordia myxa Roxb.)

Abstract

Lehsua or Gonda or Indian Cherry (Cordia myxa Roxb.) is a minor fruit that grows throughout India in arid and semi-arid regions. Green mature fruits are utilized for making good quality of the pickle and vegetable purpose while nutritive ripe fruits have mucilage and may be used for fresh consumption and liquor. The fruits are used as medicine, astringent, anthelmintic, diuretic, demulcent and expectorant. Genotypes are essential in order to develop superior recombinants/ varieties (1). In chilli, the genetic divergence among parents was estimated by mahalanobis 02 statistics; later these divergent parents were used for hybridization (1). Keeping all facts in view the present study was initiated to estimate the genetic divergence present in a set of 15 provenances of lehsua.