Study of Genetic Divergence Using Mahalanobis D² Statistic in Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) Genotypes.

The genetic diversity among eight genotypes of chilli was measured by employing D² statistic. Using Tochers method three divergent clusters were formed. Cluster I followed by cluster II had maximum intracluster distance indicating that the hybrids in these clusters were more divergent than other clusters. The clusters III had zero intra-cluster distance because of the inclusion of a single hybrid in this cluster. Similarly highest inter-cluster distance was observed between II and III clusters. Therefore, hybrids falling in these two clusters may have wider variability. Among the nine quantitative characters studied, the maximum contribution to the total divergence was by plant height followed by average seed weight and fruit weight. Analysis of cluster means indicated substantial variation among the three clusters formed. In the present study cluster III and I included high yielding hybrids, whereas cluster II included poor yielding hybrids. The characteristics that played the greatest role in differentiation were plant height, fruitweight, and seed weight, which can be utilized as conventional/morphological markers for the improvement of chilli yield and for obtaining good segregants in chilli breeding programs.