Genetic divergence in Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) germplasm based on quantitative traits

Abstract

Genetic divergence using Mahalanobis D2 statistics was studied using 13 yield traits in 37 genotypes of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.). D2 analysis clustered the genotypes into seven groups and indicated sufficient diversity among the genotypes tested. Cluster-I was the biggest cluster with 13 genotypes followed by cluster-IV with 11 genotypes. Cluster-III recorded maximum intra-cluster distance (51.85). Maximum inter-cluster distance (345.23) was recorded between cluster-IV and VII. Cluster-VII and cluster-III recorded desirable mean values for six and three traits, respectively. Among 13 yield traits studied, fresh fruit yield/ plant, number of seeds/pod and fruit diameter had the maximum contribution towards genetic diversity. The traits number of primary branches/plant, number of secondary branches/plant and fresh fruit weight/pod had no contribution towards genetic divergence. The diverse lines may be utilized in crop improvement by exploiting heterosis or by transgressive breeding