Genetic Divergence Studies in Little Millet (Panicumsumatrense)

Genetic diversity was estimated in 50 little millet genotypes by Mahalanobis D2 analysis for nine quantitative and eight physiological traits. In the present investigation based on D2 analysis fifty genotypes were grouped into 7 clusters. Among the different clusters cluster I had maximum number 35 genotypes followed by cluster II contains 10 and clusters III, IV, V, VI, VII were solitary. Inter cluster distances were higher than intra cluster distances indicating wider genetic diversity among the genotypes. The maximum inter cluster distance was observed between cluster IV and VII (131.19) followed by cluster II and IV (112.18) and cluster III and VII (104.28) indicated the existence of highly divergent genotypes. The genotypes from these clusters could be used as parents in hybridization programme to develop good recombinants. Days to 50% flowering, plant height, leaf area index at panicle initiation stage and 1000 seed weight contributed maximum towards genetic diversity. These traits could be given importance for selecting parents in crop improvement programme.