Genetic diversity among chickpea accessions

Multivariate analysis of divergence among 60 entries of chickpea for seven developmental characters led to their grouping into five dusters. Grouping of entries in different dusters was not related to their geographic origin. The interduster D² values ranged from 8.0 to 38.2. Based on mean performance, genetic distance and dustering pattern, hybridization involving parents from clusters II and V may give higher yielding varieties.