Genetic divergence analysis in advanced breeding lines of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

A total of 120 advanced rice breeding lines along with five checks were evaluated for genetic divergence using Mahalanobis D² statistics across nine agronomic traits. The research was carried out in Kharif 2024 using Augmented block design. The research was performed at Agriculture Research Station, Sakoli, Dist. Bhandara. Analysis using Wilk’s criterion revealed significant variation among genotypes. Tocher’s method grouped the lines into five clusters, with the highest inter-cluster distance observed between clusters II and V (D² = 84.05), indicating maximum diversity. Superior lines such as SKL-18-22-230-77-187-120-60, SKL-18-20-283-108-184-160-105, and SKL-18-22-230-77-170-100-54 outperformed the check variety Sakoli-8 in grain yield. Lines like SKL-18-03-220-305-374-250-212 and SKL-18-03-200-305-236-235-134 were identified as promising advanced breeding programs.