Multivariate analysis in niger (Guizotia abyssinica cass.)

Genetic divergence, assessed in 15 cultivars of niger using D² statistic for six developmental characters, showed grouping of cultivarsinto seven clusters. Cluster II was the largest with 4 cultivars, followed by cluster I with three and clusters III-V with two, and clusters VI and VII with a single cultivar each. Cluster II showed maximum genetic distance from cluster V, suggesting wide diversity between these groups. Four characters, viz. days to flowering, maturity, test weight and yield, were the highest contributors to D² values. Four clusters consisting of nine cultivars have been judged as important for varietal improvement programme on the basis of their intercluster distances and higher cluster mean values for the aforesaid four characters.