Assessment of Genetic Variability and Diversity for Quantitative Characters in Naked Barley (Hordeum vulgare (L.) var. nudum Hk. f.)

Forty genotypes of hulless barley were studied to understand the extent of genetic variability and diversity based on 7 quantitative characters. A wide range of variation was observed for seed yield per plot followed by plant height, tillers per meter and 1000-grain weight. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean was registered for seed yield per plot and tillers per meter in genotypes indicating the predominance of additive gene action for these traits. Based on D² statistics, 40 genotypes were grouped into 7 clusters in which cluster IV consisted of only single genotype (Geetanjali) while other six clusters involved multi-genotypes. The maximum inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster IV and VII (120.82) followed by cluster IV and V (107.43). Geetanjali of cluster IV exhibited highest seed yield per plot and tillers per meter along with early days to 50% heading. The genotypes involved in cluster IV and VII may be utilized in hybridization programme for improving the characters like early maturity, tillers/meter, short plant height and seed yield/plot.