Characterization and assessment of genetic divergence in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The present investigation entitled “Characterization and Assessment of Genetic Divergence in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)” involving forty four genotypes was aim to study the genetic divergence analysis. The traits under study were days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of productive tillers per plant, spike length, total number of spikelets per spike, number of grains per spike, biological yield per plant, grain yield per plant, harvest index, 1000 seed weight and protein content. The maximum inter cluster D2 value observed between cluster I and VI followed by cluster II and III, cluster III and VI, cluster II and V, cluster IV and V, cluster II and VI, cluster II and IV, cluster IV and VI, cluster III and IV, cluster V and VI, cluster I and IV, cluster I and II, cluster III and V, cluster I and III and lowest was recorded between cluster I and V. The plant height contributed maximum divergence followed by number of grains per spike, harvest index, days to 50% flowering, 1000 seed weight, grain yield per plant, days to maturity, spikelets per spike, productive tillers per plant, protein content and spike length can be used for selecting parents from distinctly placed clusters to obtain high heterotic effects and transgressive segregants.