The present experiment was carried out with 25 genotypes including 4 checks in RBD design with three replications during Kharif 2023 to study the nature and extent of diversity present among genotypes. The observations were recorded for nine characters namely days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height (cm), number of effective tillers/plant, number of panicle/m2, number of grains/panicle, panicle length (cm), 1000-grain weight (g), grain yield/plant (g). Based on their level of divergence, 25 genotypes were classified into five distinct non-overlapping clusters using Tocher’s method. Cluster II showed maximum intra-cluster distance values, followed by cluster I, while cluster III, IV and V reported zero intra-cluster distance, indicating that these clusters were monogenotypic in nature. The inter-cluster D2 values was maximum between cluster III and IV, followed by cluster IV and V, cluster III and V, indicating that there was greater diversity present among these genotypes. Thus, in order to produce better and more desirable recombinants and increase rice grain production, hybridization programmes should employ the genotypes of these clusters

D2 statistics, intra and inter-cluster, Diversity & Tocher’s method.

From the current study, it can be suggested that genotypes from cluster IV should be selected for developing early maturity varieties of rice while genotypes from cluster III should be selected for selection as parents in hybridization programmes for improving grain yield in rice. Maximum intra-cluster distance displayed by cluster II followed by cluster I, indicating that there was greater diversity present among these genotypes. Highest inter cluster distance was observed between cluster III and IV and cluster IV and V, which indicates wider genetic diversity among genotypes. Thus, the genotypes of these clusters should be employed in hybridization programmes to produce better and more acceptable recombinants in order to increase rice grain yield

Guddi Takar, Manoj Kumar, Sandhya, D.L. Yadav, B.K. Patidar, Govind Tikiani and Rajesh Naga (2024). Study of Genetic Diversity in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Genotypes for Yield and Related Traits using D2 Analysis in the South-Eastern Plain Zone of Rajasthan. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 16(6): 89-92