Study of genetic diversity in M5 generation of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.)

The present investigation, entitled "Study of genetic diversity in M5 generation of Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp)” was conducted at Research and Education farm, Department of Agriculture Botany, College of Agriculture, Dapoli., Dist. Ratnagiri, during the kharif 2023. In this study, 37 mutant lines and 1 check sample of pigeon pea underwent analysis for 15 different characteristics using Randomized block design (RBD). Based on the magnitude of D2 values, the 37 mutant and 1 check of pigeon pea were grouped into 6 clusters. Cluster I contain 2 mutants, cluster II contain 16 mutants, cluster III contain 6 mutants along with Konkan Tur 1, cluster IV contain 7 mutants, cluster V contain 6 mutants and cluster VI contain only 1 mutant. The highest divergence was observed between clusters I and VI (162.13), followed by cluster III and cluster IV (108.99), cluster V and cluster VI (108.79), cluster I and cluster IV (98.97), cluster I and cluster III (98.78), cluster IV and cluster V (98.30). Cluster V has the maximum intra cluster distance (39.88), followed by Cluster IV (36.27), Cluster III (30.13), Cluster II (27.34) and Cluster I (4.33). Based on the mean performance, the mutants viz., T2(11)3-3-7, T1(67)11-2-9, T1(67)2-2-4, T3(9)5-1-1 and T2(85)2-3-4 found elite mutants. These, mutants can be used for further varietal improvement.