GENETIC DIVERSITY IN BRINJAL ( Solanum melongena L.) GENOTYPES OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

Study on genetic diversity based on qualitative and quantitative character among 15 genotypes of brinjal were done on 15 brinjal genotypes at the farm of Sher-e- Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during November, 2013 to April, 2014 .Diversity was estimated by cluster distance. Significant variations were observed among the brinjal genotypes for all the parameters under study. Multivariate techniques were used to classify the genotypes. All the genotypes were grouped into five clusters. Principal Component Analysis, Principal Coordinate Analysis and Canonical Variate Analysis had exhibited similar results. Cluster I had the maximum of saven and the cluster III and IV had the minimum of 1 genotype respectively. The highest intra-cluster distance was observed in cluster II followed by I. The highest inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster III and IV and the lowest between the cluster I and II. The characters such as number of fruits per plant, fruit length, fruit diameter and fruit weight contributed maximum towards divergence among the genotypes. Genetic divergence was not found to be related to geographical diversity. Analyzing diversity pattern and other agronomic performance, the genotype 6 from cluster II, genotype 13 from cluster IV, genotype 14 from cluster I and 15 from cluster V were selected as better parents for future hybridization program.