Studies on Genetic Diversity in Various Qualitative and Quantitative Characters in Rice Germplasm

One hundred and ninety five rice accessions were evaluated to study the diversity pattern among the genotypes. The genotypes were grouped under ten clusters. The distribution pattern indicated that maximum number of genotypes (28) were grouped into cluster II, followed by 27 in cluster III. The inter-cluster distance is higher than intra cluster indicating wide genetic diversity among the genotypes. The highest inter-cluster distances was observed between cluster VI and VII followed by cluster IV and VII showed wider diversity among the groups. The highest intra-cluster, distance was observed for cluster I followed by cluster IX. The accessions with IC 346231, 352813, 346237, 331640, 152036, 372020 can be used as potential donors for hybridization programme to develop variety with higher yield potential.