Estimate of genetic diversity in snake gourd ( Trichosanthes cucumerina)

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted at the field and laboratory of the Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the period from April 2004 to September 2004 to study the nature and magnitude of genetic diversity of 38 snake gourd genotypes collected from different regions of the country. Based on D2 analysis, the genotypes were grouped into four different clusters, where the cluster I possessed maximum number (21) of genotypes followed by the cluster 11(8), III (7), and IV (2). Clustering pattern revealed that geographical diversity was not associated with genetic diversity i.e., genotypes collected from same location were grouped into different clusters. The maximum inter-cluster distance was observed between the clusters III and IV and that of minimum in between the clusters I and II. In case of intra-cluster distance, the maximum distance was observed in the cluster IV and that of minimum was observed in the cluster III. Considering cluster mean, the genotypes of cluster IV could be selected for yield per plant and other yield contributing characters. Keywords: Cluster; D2 analysis; genetic diversity; snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina). DOI: 10.3329/bjar.v35i1.5870Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 35(1) : 95-100, March 2010