GENETIC DIVERGENCE ANALYSIS IN LENTIL (Lens culinaris Medik.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted with 60 lentil genotypes at Sher-eBangla Agricultural University experimental

Farm, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, to study their diversity based on different morphological characteristics during November 2005 to March 2006. Different multivariate analysis techniques were used to classify 60 lentil genotypes. Diversity was estimated by cluster distance. All the genotypes were grouped into six clusters. Principal Component Analysis, Cluster Analysis and Canonical Variate Analysis exhibited similar results. Significant variations were observed among the lentil genotypes for all the parameters under study. Cluster V had the maximum (22) and cluster I had the minimum (6) number of genotypes. The highest intra-cluster distance was observed in cluster IV followed by II. The highest inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster II and VI and the lowest inter-cluster distance was found between the clusters IV and I. Plant height and dry matter weight contributed maximum towards divergence among the lentil genotypes. Genetic divergence related to geographical diversity was not observed. The genotypes which had moderate inter-cluster distance coupled with medium to high yield could be utilized for screening suitable materials from large population. Considering diversity pattern, genetic status and other agronomic performances some of the materials viz. BD 5969 & BD 5983 from cluster I; BD 5988, BD 4085 & BD 4091 from cluster II; BD 5991 & BD 5980 from cluster III; BD 3861, BD 4103 & BD 4110 from cluster IV; BD 4074, BD 3853, BD 5961 & BD 5973 from cluster V and BD 5977, BD 5958, BD 5967, BD 5990, BD 5970, BD 5981 & BD 5966 from cluster VI, could be used as superior parents for lentil improvement programme.