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

Abstract

The nature and magnitude of genetic diversity was assessed using non-hierarchical euclidean cluster analysis in 405 pure breeding lines of T. aestivum for grain yield and its associated traits. All the genotypes got grouped in 13 different clusters. The clustering pattern of the genotypes belonging to the same country revealed their distribution in more than one cluster showing nonparallelism between geographic and genetic diversity. Members of cluster IV and IX were highly diverse from each other. Cluster VI had high mean values for grain yield, biological yield, number of tillers/unit area and harvest index. A number of genotypes were also identified which mayserve as potent genetic donors for some metric traits.