Genetic diversity study for grain yield and its components in urdbean (Vigna mungo L. Hepper) using different clustering methods

In the present study, 66 urdbean genotypes were evaluated for various agro-morphological traits during rainy season (kharif) 2012 at IIPR, Kanpur to assess the level of genetic diversity among the genotypes. Based on hierarchical average linkage clustering method and D² statistic the genotypes were grouped into seven clusters having significant inter-cluster distances. Shannon-Weaver's diversity index (H) and Simpson's index (1/D) was used to assess the phenotypic diversity for all eight yield attributes. The H index revealed moderate diversity for most of the traits. The average Shannon – Weaver's diversity index for all traits in whole population was 0.54 with the lowest value of 0.49 for biological yield per plant to highest value for grain yield per plant and pods per plant (0.58). The simple correlation coefficients showed significant positive correlation of grain yield per plant with plant height (0.44**), clusters per plant (0.65**), pods per plant (0.77**) and biological yield per plant (0.70**). Based on the inter cluster D² value, genotypes with high inter cluster distances could be used in hybridization programme to generate diversity in breeding programme.