Estimation of Divergence to Genetic Variation in Half-SIB Families of Madhuca indica GMEL. Under Greenhouse and Open Field Environmental Conditions

This experiment was aimed to study the genetic diversity among twenty half-sib progenies of Madhuca indica belonging to different places of Allahabad (U.P), India. Seeds of 20 candidate plus trees were sown in greenhouse and open field environments with a view to assess the impact of two different environments on the expression of genetic diversity using Non-hierarchical Euclidean cluster analysis. Superior tree progenies were grouped into five clusters under green house as well as field environments. Families of plus trees S 2 and S 14 formed same groups in different clusters. Inter-cluster distance was found to be highest between cluster III and V, both under green house and field environment. Higher values of inter and intra cluster distance in field environment as compared to green house environment may be attributed to greater environmental differences, revealing their genetic closeness from high to medium. Leaf area followed by seedling height contributed maximum to the total divergence and played a prominent role in creating the genetic diversity.