Forty two genotypes of large seeded (macrosperma) lentils, both indigenous and exotic, were evaluated to study the nature and magnitude of genetic diversity by using Mahalanobis's D2 statistic and canonical analysis. All the genotypes were grouped into 14 clusters. Days to flowering and maturity, seeds per pod and seed yield per plant were important characters in differentiation among the germplasm entries from different geographical regions. Genotypes originating from a particular geographical region grouped into the same or different clusters. Based upon the clustering pattern and performance of genotypes in different clusters, a breeding programme can be initiated for the genetic improvement of macrosperma lentils by crossing L-2961 with L-3991-24 and L-1646 and selecting the recombinants combining the higher seed yield and earliness in the segregating generations.
