Genetic diversity studies in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L) genotypes under late sown condition

This study aimed to assess the genetic diversity among 50 chickpea genotypes using Mahalanobis D2 statistics to identify potential parents for breeding programmes during rabi 2022-23 at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Ganeshkhind, Pune, Maharashtra. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with three replications and data were collected for 11 yield and yield-contributing traits. Genetic divergence was determined using Mahalanobis D2 statistics and cluster formation was done using Tocher’s method. The genotypes were grouped into 11 clusters, with Cluster I being the largest, containing 35 genotypes. The clusters II, III, IV, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X and XI were monogenotypic containing only one genotype. Significant inter-cluster distances were observed, indicating substantial genetic divergence. There was wide diversity observed among the genotypes with D2 values ranging from 28.70 to 585.64. The highest D2 value was observed between the Clusters IV and X having genotypes Phule G-1424-4-2 and Vijay. This suggested that these genotypes had large source of variation. Based on per se performance and intra- and inter-cluster distance genotypes Jaki-9218, Phule Vikram, Vishal, TRCH-4, Local Gawadevadi, Local Awasari-3, Phule G-1424-4-2, Phule G-14481, C-2266, C-2265, Phule G-1403-18-14, Vijay and Digvijay were found promising for cultivation and could be used as potential parents in future crop improvement programmes.