Variability and Genetic Diversity Studies in Redgram [Cajanus Cajan (L.) Millsp.

ABSTRACT

An investigation was carried out with 50 accessions of pigeon pea to identify diverse genotypes. They were evaluated for ten yield and yield attributing characters using Mahalanobis D2 statistics. The analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the characters studied. Maximum range of variation was recorded for seed yield per plant. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance has been recorded for seed yield per plant and number of pods per plant, seed weight and primary branches. Based on the genetic distance all the 50 genotypes were grouped under seven different clusters. The maximum inter-cluster distance was recorded between clusters II and IV. Seed yield per plant contributed maximum to the total divergence. Seed yield, number of pods per plant and seed weight can be given due weight in selection and improvement of pigeonpea, Crossing between the genotyptes of Cluster II and IV is expected to exhibit high heterosis and give wider spectrum of variability.