Variability and genetic diversity studies in indigenous chow-chow genotypes of northeast India

Thirty eight indigenous collections of chow-chow were evaluated for eight quantitative and quality traits. High values of genotypic coefficient of variance along with high heritability and genetic advance were recorded for number of fruits/plant, fruit yield/plant, TSS, acidity and ascorbic acid. Number of fruits/plant and average fruit weight showed positive and significant correlation with fruit yield/plant. The number of fruit/plant and average fruit weight had high direct effect towards the fruit yield/plant. Hence, these characters should be given more emphasis while making selection for high yielding genotypes. On the basis of genetic divergence, relative magnitude of D² values thirty-eight genotypes were grouped into seven clusters. The maximum genetic divergence was observed between cluster III and VII followed by cluster II and VI. The cluster V and VI displayed lowest degree of divergence. The minimum intra-cluster distance was exhibited for cluster VI followed by cluster V. However, it was maximum for cluster III. The mean values were higher in cluster I and IV for two characters i.e. fruit length and average fruit weight, while cluster II had high mean values for number of fruits/plant.