Estimation of genetic divergence in niger (Guizitia abyssinica (L.f) Cass.)

An experiment was undertaken by utilizing forty genotypes of Niger obtained from Project co-ordinator Unit, Jabalpur and AICRP on Niger, Zonal Agriculture Research Station, Igatpuri at ZARS, Igatpuri during kharif-2019. The analysis of variance has shown that there was significant variation among the genotypes in all the traits. The multivariate analysis carried out using Mahalanobis D2-statistics, indicated wider genetic diversity in the genotypes of niger. Out of nine cluster formed, cluster I was largest with eighteen genotypes, followed by cluster II with eight genotypes, The cluster V, VI, VII, VIII, IX were solitary since they had only one genotype, whereas cluster III had six genotypes and cluster IV had three genotypes. The clustering pattern indicated absence of relationship between genetic diversity and geographical origin of the genotypes. The maximum inter cluster distance was observed between cluster IV and VIII (D= 17.68) while, lowest divergence was noticed between cluster V and IX (D=7.48). Maximum intra cluster distance observed within cluster III (D=8.06) while lowest intra cluster distance was observed within cluster I (D=6.12). The variance for cluster means were high for plant height (28.59 per cent), followed by oil content (21.28 per cent), seed yield (17.95 per cent), days to maturity (16.03 per cent) while, number of capitulum per plant was least contributor (0.13 per cent) towards the diversity. Based on inter-cluster distances, cluster mean and per se performance viz; IGPN-18-1, IGPN-18-12, IGPN-18-13, IGPN-18-14, IGPN-18-18, IGPN-18-19, N-24 and NSKMS-214 were distinct and diverse and can be classified as promising genotypes. These eight genotypes can be used for inter-crossing to obtain heterosis and also wider variability in Niger.