ANALYSIS OF GENETIC DIVERSITY IN INDIGENOUS AND EXOTIC MACROS~ERMA LENTILS

Abstract

Forty two genotypes of large seeded (macrosperma) lentils, both
indigenous and exotic, were evaluated to study the natureand magnitude of
genetic diversity by using Mahalanobis 's [)2statistic and canonical analysis.
All the genotypes were grouped into 14 clusters. Days to flowering and
maturity, seeds per pod and seed yield per plant were important characters
in differentiation among the germplasm entries from different geographical
regions. Genotypes originatingfromaparticulargeographical region grouped
into the same or different clusters. Based upon the clustering pattern and
performance ofgenotypes in different clusters, abreeding programme can be
initiated for the genetic improvement ofmacrosperma lentils by crossing L2961
with L-3991-24 and L-1646 and selecting the recombinants combining
the higher seed yield and earliness in the segregating generations.