Genetic divergence studies for yield and quality traits in white and brown finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L).)

Abstract

The present study assessed the nature and magnitude of genetic variability for yield and quality-related traits in 64 finger millet genotypes for 25 parameters during Kharif, 2020-21 at Agricultural College Farm, Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh. In D² analysis, the maximum inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster Ⅳ, with white-seeded genotypes and cluster Ⅵ with brown-seeded genotypes indicating these clusters may give a high heterotic response and better segregants. The principal component analysis identified the maximum contributing variables i.e., grain yield per plant, harvest index, fingers per earhead, test weight, peduncle length, seed protein content and seed calcium content in the first principal component. PCA scores of 64 genotypes indicated that genotypes IC0477628, IC0476988, IC0477206, VR1034, IC473950 and IC0477272 are diverse for yield and quality traits and hence hybridization between these genotypes is suggested for generating transgressive segregants.