National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Regional Station, PKV Campus, Akola-444104 (Maharashtra).
Genetic divergence analysis revealed that twenty eight genotypes were grauped in 12 clusters. Cluster II comprised five genotypes one each from Australia, GDR, Pakistan, Japan and USSR whereas clusters VIII to XII were represented by single genotype from Iran, Greece, Syria and India respectively. The common evolutionary trends were obvious, since the genotypes spaced apart were grauped together. It was also revealed from grouping pattern that the nature of selection forces operating under domestic conditions seems to be unidirectional for accumulating similar gene pool across the geographical barriers since genotypes from countries far apart got grouped together. The present study helped in isolating genotypes with high cluster means which are useful for breeding programme. However, geographical diversity was observed to be not strictly related to genetic diversity. This analysis also helped in identifying genotypes which are genetically divergent.
