Genetic diversity studies in kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum L.)

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken to assess genetic diversity in seventy genotypes of kodo millet. The analysis of variance revealed the presence of significant variation among the genotypes for all 13 characters. Higher genotypiccoefficient of variation (GCV), phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV), heritability and genetic advance as per centmean were recorded for thumb raceme length, number of productive tillers per plant, length of panicle, racemelength and grain yield per plant, indicating that simple selection could be practised for improving these traits. Seventygenotypes were grouped into seven different clusters on the basis of magnitude of D2 values by Mahalanobis D2analysis. Cluster I had 51 genotypes followed by cluster II with 14 genotypes, while clusters III, IV, V, VI and VII weremono genotypic. The inter–cluster distance was high between clusters II and III and therefore it is suggested to usethese genotypes as parents for hybridization to evolve potential segregants