Genetic divergence studies in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L). R. Br)

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the genetic divergence among fifty pearl millet germplasmsusing Mahalanobis D2 statistics for fourteen different traits. Analysis of variance indicated considerable diversityamong genotypes showing significant variability for all the characters. D2 clustering grouped the genotypes intosixteen clusters. The maximum (191.2) inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster XV and XVI followedby clusters V and XV (144.9), clusters X and XV (139.7), clusters XIII and XV (137.8), clusters XI and XV (120.2)and clusters VI and XVI (117.3). The genotypes PPBI-04 from cluster XI, PPBI-34 from cluster V, PPBI-38 fromcluster XVI and PPBI-39 from cluster IX were considered on the basis of higher inter-cluster distances andsuperior performance for yield and yield contributing characters. Though the inter-cluster distances of cluster Iwith other clusters were low, PPBI-31 and PPBI-44 from cluster I were selected based on high grain yield andimportant yield contributing characters. Hybridization among these genotypes produces heterotic combinationsfor improving grain yield per plant. Inclusion of genotypes, PPBI-34 and PPBI-44 in the crossing programmewould produce drought-tolerant varieties as they were found superior for SPAD chlorophyll meter reading at 45DAS.