Genetic Divergence of African Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.)

An investigation was conducted with 28 genotypes of African marigold to assess the genetic diversity to identify superior genotypes for further crop breeding programmes. The genotypes studied were grouped into five clusters. Among the clusters clusters II and I are large clusters with 13 and 10 genotypes in each clusters respectively, followed by cluster III and IV each comprising of 2 genotypes while cluster V was solitary. The maximum intra cluster distance was recorded in Cluster II followed by cluster I and minimum intra cluster distance was shown by cluster V. The inter cluster distance was noticedhighest between the cluster III and V, followed by cluster I and V while it was minimum between cluster I and III.