Divergence analysis studies in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes

A field experiment was carried out with 50 diverse indigenous genotypes of bread wheat along with five checks in Randomized Block Design for divergence analysis by using Mahalanobis D2 statistics. The trial was conducted at Wheat Research Unit, Dr. PDKV Akola (MH), during Rabi 2023-24. The observations were recorded on ten quantitative characters viz. days to heading, days to maturity, plant height at maturity, number of effective tillers per meter, number of grains per spike, grain weight per spike, spike length, 1000 grain weight, grain yield per plant, grain yield per plot. Results revealed that 50 genotypes and five check varieties of wheat were grouped into eight distinct clusters by using Tocher’s cluster analysis. It indicated the existence of high degree of genetic diversity present in the genotypes. The maximum intra-cluster distance was found for cluster VIII (9.374) followed by cluster IV (9.305) and cluster I (8.147). The minimum intra-cluster distance was recorded for cluster, cluster III, cluster V, cluster VI and cluster VII viz (0.00). The highest inter-cluster distance was observed between clusters VII and VIII (20.803), followed by clusters I and VIII (17.882), cluster VI and VIII (15.55), cluster III and VIII (15.506). The lowest inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster II and III (6.02) followed by II and V (6.68) and cluster III and V (8.607). Hence, crosses should be made between these widely related genotypes located in intra and inter cluster distances, to get desirable extent of heterotic potential in order to increase the production and productivity of wheat.