Genetic diversity in African marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) genotypes.

Nature and magnitude of genetic divergence assessed on thirty African marigold genotypes assembled from different geographical locations showed the presence of wide genetic diversity. The genotypes were grouped in to eight clusters based on Mahalanobis D2 statistics using Tocher's method. The clustering pattern of genotypes revealed that the genetic diversity was independent of the geographical diversity. Among the eight clusters, maximum numbers of genotypes were found in cluster IV and cluster VIII was mono genotypic. The maximum inter cluster distance was observed between cluster IV and III (D2 =30.76), closely followed by cluster IV and VIII (D2 =2.16). The cluster I revealed the least distance relationship with the cluster III ((D2 =2.16). Depending upon the mean value, the varieties like TE-5, TE-7, TE-6 and TE-13 can be used us parents in hybridization programme for the higher yield. As these genotypes have better means for yield and yield contributing characters and are placed in different clusters showing great genetic diversity.