AICRP on Pigeonpea, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore-560 065 (Kamataka).
* Corresponding author.
Eighty-one genotypes of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) representing different groundnut centres were studied for genetic divergence analysis utilizing Mahalanobis D2 analysis. Based on the genetic distance (D2 value) groundnut accessions were grouped into 16 clusters. Of the 16 clusters formed, cluster I was the largest with 47 accessions followed by cluster II with 10 accessions. Test weight, days to maturity and oil content were the most potential traits contributing to the total divergence. Cluster Xl and XVI had maximum inter-cluster distance suggesting wide diversity and by utilizing these accessions from these clusters desirable segregants may be evolved through hybridization. Cluster XII has genotype with most favorable characters and hence can be involved as potential parent for development of superior genotypes.
Arachis hypogaea, Clusters, Divergence, Groundnut, D2 technique
