Genetic Divergence in Traditional Rice Accessions in Chhattisgarh

The D² analysis allowed the 96 genotypes of rice to be identified into nine distinct clusters. Among the different clusters, cluster VII contained maximum of 20 genotypes and cluster V contained a minimum of 6 genotypes. The cluster IV was characterized by highest mean value for days to 50 per cent flowering, plant height, number of filled grains per panicle and grain yield per plant. The clusters VI and II had highest mean value for panicle length and head rice recovery percentage, respectively. The cluster IX was characterized by highest mean value for number of effective tillers per plant, kernel length and milling percentage. The highest inter cluster distance was observed between cluster IV and VIII while the lowest between III and VI. The lowest and highest intra cluster distance was observed in cluster III and VI, respectively. There is good scope to bring about improvement through hybridization and selection by crossing accessions from different clusters.