Author(s): A. RANAWAT, S. K. SINGH, R. SINGH, P. K. BHATI AND A. SHARMA

Abstract: D2 statistics used to measure the genetic divergence among the genotypes has been successfully utilized by the breeders to analyze the morphological diversity. Hybridization is one the tools to create variability. One may create more variability! through hybridization when parents are diversed. Hence, genetic diversity in the parents is a prerequisite for crop improvement programmes. All the genotypes of maize (Zea mays L.) were grouped into three clusters on the basis of the morphological diversity using Mahalanobis D2 statistic. Maximum intra-cluster distance was observed in cluster II (15.44) whereas, maximum inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster II and III (25.46). The analysis of divergence indicated significant differences among parental lines for all the agro-morphological characters. On the basis of results obtained in the present investigation, it was concluded that the allelic diversity can be used for future breeding program. The traits under study are also major yield contributing traits and are largely associated with each other. Therefore, these traits should be taken into consideration either simultaneously or alone for selecting a high yielding maize genotype.

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