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Genetic Diversity Analysis in Germplasm Lines of Pearl Millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L). R. Br] for Yield and Yield Related Traits

Author: P.A. Goswami and P.R. Patel

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Abstract

The study aimed to assess genetic variability among 26 pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) germplasm lines by evaluating fifteen quantitative traits using Mahalanobis D2 statistic and PCA analysis. Through cluster analysis, the 26 genotypes were classified into six clusters, with the greatest inter-cluster distance observed between clusters V and VI, followed by II and V. Protein content, iron content, 1000 grain weight, days to flowering, and harvest index were identified as major contributors to total genetic divergence, collectively accounting for the majority of the divergence. Principal component analysis identified six principal components (PC1 to PC6) with eigenvalues greater than one, collectively explaining 80.53% of the total variance in the germplasm lines. PC1, PC2, and PC4, representing traits of economic importance viz., number of effective tillers per plant, grain yield per plant, harvest index, panicle length, panicle harvest index, panicle weight, 1000 grain weight, and zinc content, contributed significantly to genetic divergence

Keywords

Principal component analysis, D2 analysis, clusters, PCA and pearl millet

Conclusion

The pearl millet lines that have been evaluated have a lot of variation that may be used in breeding programmes. The genotypes of Pearl millet were divided into 6 clusters in this study. The lines of cluster V and VI followed by II and V while PC1, PC2 and PC4 involving characters of major economic importance viz., number of effective tiller per plant, grain yield per plant, harvest index, panicle length, panicle harvest index, panicle weight, 1000 grain weight and zinc content might be employed in the crop enhancement programme to generate potential hybrids based on genetic distances

References

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How to cite this article

P.A. Goswami and P.R. Patel (2024). Genetic Diversity Analysis in Germplasm Lines of Pearl Millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L). R. Br] for Yield and Yield Related Traits. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 16(4): 101-107.