ABSTRACT
Genetic divergence using D2 statistic of forty genotypes of various agro-climatic region for ten quantitative characters revealed existence of considerable genetic diversity in the material. The genotypes were grouped into eleven clusters. Cluster VIII contained the highest number of nine genotypes followed by cluster V with seven genotypes. The pattern of distribution of genotypes from different geographical location into eleven clusters were random, demonstrating that geographical isolation may not be the only factor causing genetic diversity. The highest intra-cluster distance was observed for cluster VI (112.02) and the lowest was observed for cluster II (6.24). While the highest inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster III and X (493.41). Harvest index contributed maximum to diversity. Cluster IX with WGG-66 recorded the highest mean for yield contributing characters viz., plant height, branches/plant, pods/plant and clusters/plant. Therefore it was suggested that more emphasis should be given this genotype as parents for crossing with genotypes of other clusters which may produce novel recombinants with desirable traits.
ABSTRACT
Combining ability studies indicated predominant role of non-additive gene action for the inheritance of the characters viz., plant height, clusters per plant, pods per plant, pods per cluster, pod length, seeds per pod, 100 seed weight, protein content and grain yield per plant. However, additive gene action was found to be playing a major role in respect of days of 50 per cent flowering and days to maturity. Overall examination of gca and sca effects showed Pusa-105, RMG-275, LGG-460 and ML-267 as the best general combiners and the crosses COGG-2 x LGG 410, RMG 275 x LGG 410, LGG 460 x LGG 410 and Pusa 105 x PDM 89-221 as the best cross combinations for some of the characters studied. Hence, it is suggested that these crosses are to be carried for further generations for the improvement of grain yield in greengram.