Genetic diversity in relation to grain yield and neurotoxin in grasspea (Lathyrus sp.) genetic resources

Genetic divergence as measured by D² technique was studied for grain yield, its components and neurotoxin content in 65 genotypes of grasspea. The genotypes were grouped into six clusters and the maximum intra-cluster distance was observed in cluster III comprising 16 genotypes. Clusters I and II followed by I and IV were identified as genetically divergent. Considering the cluster means and cluster distances, RLS 6, Pusa 24, BioL-212, 15 157-14 and BioR-202 of cluster IV (for 100-seed weight); RLS 3, BioR-231, RLS 12, Bio I-222, P94-3 of cluster V (for low ODAP and earliness); RLS 9630, RLS 617, RLS 9625, RLS 9622, RLS 9603, RLS 7 of cluster III (for number of pods plant⁻¹) are expected to give promising and desirable recombinants of high yield with low neurotoxin content.