GENETIC DIVERSITY ANALYSIS OF RED AMARANTH (Amaranthus cruentus L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted with 20 genotypes of red amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.) at the experimental field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka to study the Genetic Diversity Analysis of Red Amaranth from November to December 2020. The genotypes were found significantly different for all the characters studied. Comparatively phenotypic coefficient of variation was higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation for all the traits. Experiment showed significant differences among the genotypes. Phenotypic variance was higher than that of genotypic variance for all the characters. High genotypic co-efficient of variation (GCV) was found for plant height and average leaf area plant xi -1 . High heritability with high genetic advance in percent of mean was observed in plant height, average stem diameter plant -1 and yield plant -1 (fresh weight) which indicated that these traits would be effective for genetic improvement. Correlation studies showed that positive and significant correlation of yield plant -1 (fresh weight) with number of leaves plant , average leaf length plant -1 , average leaf area plant -1 and average stem diameter plant . Path co-efficient analysis revealed that number of leaves plant -1 , average leaf area plant -1 and average stem diameter plant -1 had the positive direct effect on yield plant

(fresh weight) whereas, plant height and average leaf length plant -1 had the negative direct effect on yield plant -1 (fresh weight). Diversity was estimated by cluster distance and the genotypes were grouped into five clusters. The highest inter-cluster distance was observed between clusters II and IV and the maximum intra-cluster distance was found in cluster II and the lowest inter-cluster distance was observed between clusters I and II and the minimum intra-cluster distance was found in cluster IV. Considering group distance and other agronomic performance, genotypes BD7406

and BD-2964 in cluster IV and genotypes BD-2946 and BD-2934 in cluster III could be considered as suitable genotypes for efficient hybridization in future.