Indian Journal of Agricultural Research

One hundred sixteen germplasm lines of semi-deep water ecology of rice Oryza saliva (L.) were evaluated for eleven traits to study the pattern of genetic divergence. The genotypes were grouped in nine clusters. Cluster I and III have maximum 48 and 36 genotypes, respectively. The cluster, VI, VII, vm and IX involve single genotype in each. Clusters IV, VI, VII and vm showed greater divergence. Cluster VIII was most distant from others. Cluster mean indicated that the genotype belonging to cluster V and IX were the best for days to initial flowering. The genotypes of cluster IV, VI, VIII and IX were good for panicle length. For number of primary and secondary spikes panicle⁻¹ the genotype of cluster IV i.e., NDR 4025 and NDR 4036 were found good for yield attributing traits viz., ear bearing tillers and panicle weight hill-to The yield attributing traits viz., number of filled grains and total number of spikelets panlcle⁻¹, the genotypes of cluster VII and VI and VIII and VII, respectively showed maximum diversity. Based on the mean performance, genetic distance and clustering pattern hybridization involving germplasm lines belonging to cluster IV, VIII, VII and VI, respectively as parent for intra population improvement.