RESEARCH ARTICLE GENETIC DIVERGENCE ANALYSIS IN MUSKMELON (Cucumis melo L.)

Thirty five genotypes of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) were evaluated in a randomized block design with three replications at the Experimental Farm, Vegetable Research Station, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India during late rabi season (November 2010 to February 2011) for genetic diversity based on 18 morphological traits. Cluster analysis revealed distinct clustering pattern and grouping of genotypes into six distinct clusters. Cluster II was the largest (22 genotypes) followed by cluster I (8 genotypes) and cluster IV (2 genotypes), while cluster III, V and VI were solitary consisting of single genotypes. Intracluster D 2 values ranged from 0.00 (cluster III, V and VI) to 85.514 (cluster IV), while the intercluster D 2 values ranged from 94.56 (clusters I and II) to 753.29 (clusters I and VI). The genotype of the most divergent clusters I and VI (753.29), clusters IV and VI (590.55) and clusters II and IV (529.79) could be used in hybridization programmes. Total soluble solids, seed yield, days to appearance of first staminate flower, average fruit weight contributed maximum towards divergence. 2 statistic, Tocher’s method.