Characterization of citrons growing in North East India using hierarchical cluster analysis

Eight different citron biotypes collected from different parts of north east were utilised for hierarchial agglomerative cluster analysis using sixty-five morphological characters. Euclidean distance between the genotypes were measured by re-scaled reversed absolute squared Euclidean similarity coefficient matrix. The cluster analysis of the Euclidean similarity co-efficient matrix was performed by five different methods. Three clusters were formed in all the five methods utilised for dendrogram construction. The first cluster includes the genotypes Seuli (Barapani), Gondharaj (Nowgaon and Agartala collections). The genotypes Haijange (Imphal), Bira Jora (Titabor) and jora Tenga. (Margherita) falls in the second cluster. The third cluster includes the genotypes Bira Jora (Jorhat and Teok collections). Existence of variability in the morphological characters confirms that north east India is one of the centre of origin of the citrons.