GENETIC DIVERGENCE ANALYSIS IN RICEBEAN

Abstract

Genetic divergence using D2 statistic of 100 rice bean (Vigna umbellata) cultivars of different ecogeographic origins revealed existence of considerable diversity. The cultivars were grouped into 15 clusters. The cluster I was the largest containing 40 cultivars followed by cluster II with 14 cultivars. Cluster III, IV and VI had nine cultivars each, whereas cluster V had only five cultivars. The diversity among the cultivars measured by intercluster distance, was adequate for improvement of rice bean by hybridization and selection. The cultivars included in the diverse clusters can be used as promising parents for hybridization programme for obtaining high heterotic response and thus better segregants in rice bean.