Genetic Divergence Among Lowland Rice Cultivars

Genetic divergence was assessed in 50 cultivars of lowland rice using D² statistic for 15 traits related to yield. All the cultivars were grouped into 10 clusters. Clusters I, II and III were larger and consisted of more than two-thirds of the total population. The genetic diversity was not related to geographical diversity. Plant height, sheath length, kernel -length and breadth, test weight, panicle length, and number of spikelets were mainly responsible for genetic divergence. Ousters with large statistical distances were considered more diverse than those with less distances. Only genetically diverse cultivars with high yield potential and having specific traits of interest should be intercrossed. Cultivars Anandi, Adamchini, Bhatafool. Kanakjiri and Motibadam of cluster IV; Dehradoon and Kesar of cluster V; Lawangchur of cluster VIII; and Jilhore of duster × were found genetically diverse and also of high yield potential.