1Regional Research Sub-station, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science & Technology-K, Kargil, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir
2Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, P.O. Sanatnagar (J&K).
*Corresponding author's present address: Division of Plant Breeding and Genetics, SKUAST-K, Shalimar 191 121; E-mail: g_zafar@rediffmail.com
Genetic divergence of 25 apricot genotypes adapted to agro-climatic conditions of Kargil were studied. Based on Mahalanobis D2 values and canonical analysis the genotypes were classified into four different clusters. Cluster 1, having a maximum of 17 genotypes followed by cluster II with 5 genotypes. The mean intra- and inter-cluster distance (D2) revealed that cluster IV had highest intra-cluster distance (40.33), while the inter-cluster distance was maximum between cluster III and cluster IV (180.12). Characters like stone length, stone diameter, fruit weight, stone weight had sizeable contribution to total divergence. Depending upon the inter cluster distance and higher cluster means crossing between cultivars belonging to cluster III with those of cluster IV is expected to give maximum heterosis and opportunity to isolate progenies with high fruit yield and quality.
Apricot, genetic divergence
