Genetic diversity analysis of indigenous collection of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] germplasm

Thirty pearl millet landraces along with two male sterile lines were evaluated to estimate the genetic distances and to identify the desired cross combinations for the development of high yielding hybrids. Based on the Mahalanobis' D2 analysis, the 32 germplasm lines were grouped under eight clusters. A high range of variation for trait contribution to the total diversity was observed and grain yield (19.14%) contributed the maximum, followed by dry fodder yield (11.69%). Cluster I was the largest with 25 genotypes and the remaining seven were solitary clusters. Clusters VI had a maximum mean performance for most of the traits, followed by clusters III and VIII. The cluster distances among these were also high, hence, the genotypes from these clusters can be used in hybrid development as well as in the development of new inbred lines.