Genetic Divergence Studies in Cluster Bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba Linn. Taub.)

Twenty four cluster bean genotypes evaluated for genetic divergence using Mahalanobis D2 technique. The genetic material exhibited wide range of genetic diversity for all the characters investigated and grouped into 8 different clusters. The maximum intra cluster distance was observed in cluster I indicated that genotypes are having diverse genetic architecture. The maximum inter-cluster distance was recorded between cluster V and cluster VII, indicating the presence of wide range of variability among the genotypes of the cluster. The percent contribution towards genetic diversity was highest from estimated yield per hectare (53.26%) followed by yield per plot (19.56%). On the basis of inter-cluster distances and per se performance observed in the present study a hybridization programme involving genotypes for specific characters may be selected using cluster mean values.