Genetic Divergence in Relation to Geographical Origin/Pedigree in Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.)

Two hundred genotypes of wheat (Triticum aestivum L) when subjected to Mahalanobis D² analysis based on eight morphological characters were found to group into 16-clusters. Some genotypes having same pedigree did not represent the same cluster but were rather grouped into different clusters suggesting the lack of correspondence between the genetic divergence and pedigree. The genotypes collected/released from different places have been grouped in the same cluster suggesting that like the pedigree, place of origin/development did not have any relation with the genetic divergence. Based on genetic divergence and mean performance of genotypes the crosses namely Anza x WG138, Anza x Chris, WH291 x Parula ‘S’, WH291 x Veranopolis,WH291 x Torim and WH291 x NP846 can be involved in hybridization program for yield improvement in wheat.