Genetic Diversity studies in Elite Rice Landraces of North-Western Himalayas

Abstract

Forty elite rice landraces were evaluated for their morphological diversity by raising in Randomized Complete Block Design with
three replications during kharif, 2022. Data was recorded for yield and its contributing traits viz., days to 50% flowering, days to 75%
maturity, plant height, panicle length, total tillers per plant, spikelet per panicle , grains per panicle , grain yield per plant and grain
yield per plot. Among all the traits under study, 1000 grain weight was found to be maximum contributing trait towards divergence
followed by grain yield per plant. All the 40 genotypes were divided into 7 distinct clusters in accordance on the basis of morphological
data. Out of these, Cluster I consisted of the highest number of genotypes (29 genotypes) while with 5 genotypes, Cluster II has
been found to have the largest intra-cluster distance. The highest inter-cluster distance was observed between Cluster VI and Cluster
VII, suggesting the possibility of generating segregating populations, if parents are chosen for a hybridization programme from these
clusters.