Genetic Divergence in Upland Rice Germplasm (Oryza sativa L.)

In the present study, thirty six upland rice genotypes consisting of IRRI germplasm lines were raised at Field experimentationcentre, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences during Kharif 2011 to identify diverse genotypes. They were evaluated for thirteen yield and yield attributing characters using D² analysis, to study the diversity pattern among the genotypes. Based on the analysis, the genotypes were groupedinto 7 clusters. Maximum number of 9 and 7 genotypes was grouped under cluster IV and V respectively, while minimum number of genotypes (2) was grouped under cluster III. Maximum inter cluster D² value was observed between cluster III and VII (89.57) followed by cluster III and V (85.01). The greater the distance between the two clusters indicates widerthe genetic diversity between genotypes. The intra cluster distance was maximum in cluster III (45.08) followed by cluster V (34.83) indicates hybridization involving genotypes within the same clusters may result in good cross combinations. Among the thirteen traits studied, maximum contribution was made by harvest index (34.60) biological yield per plant (31.75) and days to 50 percent flowering (10.00). Hence, harvest index,biological yield per plant and days to 50 percent flowering together contribute 76.35% towards total divergence. Therefore, these characters may be given importance during hybridization programme.