Genetic diversity was assessed in eleven cultivars of litchi on the basis of six fruit characters. The study revealed enormous diversity in the material as indicated by the wide range of D2 values from 11.3 (between the varieties Rose Scented and Mclean) to 1952.5 (between cvs. Bedana and Mclean). The cultivars were grouped in four clusters on the basis of the Tocher's method. Cluster I was the largest with five cultivars and all other clusters had two cultivars each. The intercluster D2 values varied from 213.9 (between clusters II and III) to 1373.4 (between clusters I and IV); the intracluster D2 values varied from 79.7 (cluster I) to 138.8 (cluster IV). Crossing between cultivars belonging to cluster I with those of cluster IV is expected to give maximum extent heterosis whereas crosses between the cultivars of clusters III and IV should yield derivatives with better fruit characters.
Fruit characters, diversity, litchi
