Genetic Diversity in Cluster Bean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] for Morphological Characters

Thirty genotypes of cluster bean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] were assessed for genetic divergence using Mahalanobis D2 technique. These exhibited wide ranges of genetic diversity for all the characters and grouped into 5 different clusters. The maximum intra cluster distance was observed in cluster I indicated that genotypes under this group are diverse. Based on D2 values, 30 genotypes were classified into five clusters. Maximum inter- cluster distance was between cluster I and cluster II and intra-cluster distance in cluster III, indicating the presence of genetic diversity among the genotypes between the cluster bean. The percent contribution towards genetic diversity was highest from days to maturity (37.87%) followed by pod yield (q/ha) (22.32%) and seed yield /plant (g). On the basis of inter-cluster distances and per cent performance observed in the present study, a hybridization programme involving genotypes for a specific character may be selected using cluster mean values. Keywords: Cluster Bean, Clusters Distance, D2 Technique, Genetic Divergence