Regional Research Station, Keonjhar, Orissa 758002.
* Addressee for correspondence: Qrs. No. VF-13, OUAT Colony, Bhubaneswar 751003.
Genetic divergence among 23 cultivars of chickpea was estimated using D2 statistic for 7 yield traits. The cultivars were grouped into 6 clusters. Maximum genetic distance was recorded between clusters III and VI, followed by that between clusters IV and VI, suggesting wide diversity among these groups. Considering cluster means and the genetic distances, crosses between the cultivar of VI (ICCL 84225) with those of clusters III (ICCL 84217, ICCL 84219) and IV (ICCL 82108, ICCL 83214) are likely to recombine the genes for high yield.
Genetic divergence, D2 statistic, chickpea
