Diversity Analysis in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Genotypes under Temperate Conditions

Genetic diversity study was conducted in 38 chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes using Mahalanobis D2 Statistics. The current research performed at FoA, Wadura Sopore, SKUAST-Kashmir in the rabi 2017-18. In the present study, total seven clusters have been formed and range of D2 values is from 301.78 to 8477.71, cluster II includes maximum 12 genotypes after that cluster I having 9 genotypes, cluster IV having 6 genotypes, cluster Ⅲ and Ⅴ having 4 genotypes, cluster Ⅵ having 2 genotypes and cluster Ⅶ with 1 genotype. 959.33 to 8477.71 is the range of inter cluster distance. Highest inter cluster distance (8477.71) was found between the clusters, Ⅵ and Ⅶ followed by the clusters, Ⅳ and Ⅶ (5814.62), Ⅳ and Ⅴ (5807.441), Ⅴ and Ⅵ (4659.34). The minimum inter-cluster distance (959.33) possessed by clusters, Ⅱ and Ⅲ. After comprehending the intra cluster divergence it has been found that cluster Ⅳ has highest intra cluster distance (637.07) then cluster I (459.16). Since cluster Ⅶ includes only one genotype which indicates that there is no intra cluster divergence. Total nine traits have been evaluated, plant height registered higher divergence (49.25%) then pods plant-1 (36.12%), days to 50% flowering (4.13%) and days to maturity (2.7%), secondary branches plant-1 (3.24%), seed yield plant-1 (1.28%) and primary branches plant-1 (1.14%). The 100-seed weight (1.12%) and seeds pod-1 (1.02%) possesses less divergence. By considering above results the nine genotypes viz., IR-1, IR-3, IR-30, IR-20, IR-21, IR-10, IR-2, IR-7 and IR-31 have been recognized as desired genotypes for use in future breeding programme.