Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Marathwada Agricultural University, Parbhani 431402.
Analysis of genetic diversity using Mahalanobis' D2 statistic was carried out in 35 genotypes of virginia runner groundnut. These genotypes were grouped into seven clusters. Cluster I had the maximum number of genotypes. The analysis further indicated that the genotypes of common geographic origin or same location were grouped into different clusters which suggested a lack of relationship between genetic and geographic diversity. The intra- and intercluster average D2 values indicated maximum statistical distance between clusters II and VII, followed by clusters VI and VII. Cluster VII recorded highest mean kernel yield/plant, pod yield/plant, biomass yield/plant and recovery percentage.
Cluster, ecogeographical regions, pod yield, genetic variability, diverse parents, groundnut
