Genetic divergence studies of mango germplasms for tree, fruit yield and quality attributes under the Shivalik Foothills of Uttarakhand

Aim: To evaluate genetic variability and divergence in various traits among mango germplasms in the Tarai region of Uttarakhand. Methodology: The present study was conducted at Horticulture Research Centre, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand for two consecutive years (2021-22 and 2022-23). The genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation, heritability, genetic advance and genetic gain were estimated by the standard methods. Genetic divergence estimated by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was subjected to multivariate statistical analysis. Results: The analysis of variance showed a significant difference for studied attributes, indicating a considerable amount of variability. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) value was consistently higher compared to genetic coefficient of variation (GCV). Tree growth, flowering, fruit, stone and quality parameters exhibited high genetic coefficient of variation, heritability and significant genetic advance as well as percentage of the mean. The divergence study identified various fruit, yield and plant growth attributes as the most influential trait in determining diversity. Interpretation: Traits exhibiting high genetic variability are crucial for breeders in selecting suitable germplasm, as highlighted by the Bi-plot analysis, which identified PMSS-7 and PMSS-11 as genetically distinct and particularly valuable for breeding programs. Key words: Bi-plot analysis, Divergence, Germplasms, Genetic diversity, Mango