Studies on Genetic Diversity of Certain Inbred Genotypes of Maize (Zea mays L.) at Varanasi

Genetic diversity for yield and growth characters was studied in maize using twenty inbred lines. The twenty inbreds of maize were categorized into nine clusters. Based on genetic divergence intra cluster values ranged from 0.00 (monogenotypic cluster II, V, VI, VII, VIII and IX) to 218.7441 (cluster III). Among polygenotypic cluster low intra cluster values for cluster II, V, VI, VII, VIII and IX indicate narrow genetic diversity among constituent genotypes. The similarity in the base material from which they had evolved might be the cause of uniformity. The minimum inter cluster distance was observed between cluster II with cluster V (142.3249) followed by cluster V with cluster VI (155.50). The maximum inter cluster distance (1528.81) was observed between cluster IV (HUZM 88, V 994-7) and cluster VII (HKI 1344).