Assessment of genetic diversity based on morpho-phenological andproductivity traits in field pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Abstract

In the present study, one hundred sixty field pea genotypes received from National Bureau of Plant GeneticResources (NBPGR), New Delhi, Indian Institute of Pulse Research (IIPR), Kanpur and local collections were evaluated forassessing genetic divergence for exploitation in a breeding programme aimed at improving productivity. The genetic divergencewas deciphered using Mahalanobis D2 statistics. The intra cluster D2 value ranged from 0.00 to 40.52 while inter cluster D2value ranged from 25.22 to 102.38 indicated that the genetic material used in the study is highly divergent. The maximumintra cluster distance was recorded for Cluster I (40.52) while Cluster VIII (0.00) showed no intra-cluster distance valuesrevealing homogenous nature of the genotype within the cluster. Initiation of first flowering had maximum (28.41%)contribution towards diversity followed by fifty per cent flowering (18.47%), while SPAD readings at 75 DAS followed by45 DAS (0.27% and 0.29% respectively) had least contribution. Based on the cluster means it was noticed that thegenotypes superior for yield and most of the other yield attributing traits are grouped in Cluster III, the genetically moredivergent lines were grouped in Cluster VII and VIII as indicated by inter-cluster distance value (102.38). Selecting lines ofthese clusters probably provide promising recombinants and better segregants for future breeding programme.