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.
Genetic Diversity Analysis, Characterization and Evaluation of Elite Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Genotypes