Assesment of Genetic Diversity in High Bio-Mass Lines of Sorghum [Sorghum bicolour L]

Twenty five high biomassgenotypes of sorghum were studied during kharif 2014 to assess the nature and magnitude of genetic divergence using Mahalanobis's D² Statistics. The twenty five sorghum genotypes were grouped into four clusters. The cluster I was the largest cluster with thirteen genotypes. Highest inter cluster distance was observed between cluster III & cluster IV followed by between II & III. Study found that considerable genetic variability was exist in the present material. Selection based on phenotypic performance of yield factors indicates that genotypes Sel B-Pop and ICSV 93046 having diverse genetic base for high biomass yield and seed yield contributing components were promising for utilization in breeding programmes for genetic improvement in seed yield. Whereas genotype SSG 59-3 can be used for shorter maturity duration and plant height. Genotypes included in these two clusters can be utilized for future crop improvement programme.