Statistical dissection of quality traits for identifying genetic diversity in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.)

Abstract

In the study, 50 bidi and 30 natu tobacco genotypes were evaluated for quality characters along with cured leaf yield and analysed for principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering. The principal components with eigen values more than one i.e.  PC1 and PC2 described 45 % and 26 % variation, respectively. Based on the biplot analysis, cured leaf yield showed positive association with nicotine content and reducing sugars, while negative association with chlorides. Clustering was done as per the Wards method, which clustered the eighty genotypes into twelve clusters, in which cluster III contained the highest number of genotypes i.e. eleven, whereas, cluster VIII showed the solitary genotype. Cluster VIII recorded high cluster mean for reducing sugars and cured leaf yield whereas, low for chlorides and moderate for nicotine content. Overall, the results indicated that the genotypes viz., ABD 128, ABD 54, ABD 131, NyBD 82, NyBD 56 and NyBD 79 can be utilized in yield improvement programmes to develop best tobacco varieties with good quality traits for market preference.