Genetic diversity analysis by D² clustering of yield and yield attributing traits in Jute (Corchorus olitorius) germplasm lines

Abstract

In the present study, genetic diversity analysis of twenty-five tossa jute genotypes consisting of 8 exotic (OEX, Exploration through NBPGR, New Delhi), 7 exotic (OIJ, Exploration through IJO, Dhaka) and 10 Indigenous types (OIN) was carried out at Central Seed Research Station for JAF(CSRSJAF), Budbud, West Bengal during Kharif, 2019. They were evaluated based on eight seed yield and their attributing traits to study the diversity array among the genotypes and grouped into five clusters through Mahalanobis’ D² analysis. Cluster I was found largest with 19 genotypes and cluster II, III, IV, V, VI and VII comprising of only one genotype. Among the traits studied, seed yield contributed the maximum to the diversity (43.33 %) followed by plant height (24.67 %). The germplasm line OIJ 93 recorded the highest seed yield of 20.30 g per plant, while it recorded plant height 194 cm, base diameter 7.5 mm, number of primary branches per plant 2.20, number of pods per plant 18.30, pod length 6.30 cm, pod diameter 19.70 mm and number of seeds per pod 156.90. Cluster VII with an overall score of 21 across the 8 characters secured the first rank followed by clusters II, VI, III, V, IV and I. Cluster I has the highest intra-cluster distance (7.30), indicating that crosses involving genotypes within the same cluster may lead to good cross-combinations. It is hoped that genotypes will be selected from the clusters (clusters III and VII) that exhibit high inter-cluster distances for further crop improvement programs.