• GOKULAKRISHNAN, J
• B. PRIYA
• S. SARASWATHY

Sesame is an important traditional oilseed crop cultivated throughout India. Genetic divergence was studied based on Mahalanobis D2 statistic and grouping of cluster was done among the 30 genotypes for ten quantitative traits following Tocher’s method. The analysis of variance showed significant difference among the genotypes for all the characters studied. The genotypes were categorised into eight clusters based on the genetic distance and mean of different characters. The clustering pattern indicated that there is no association between geographical distribution of genotypes and genetic divergence. The minimum intra-cluster distance (D =5.75) was observed in cluster II and the maximum distance and the maximum inter cluster distance was observed between the clusters III and VIII. Cluster VIII recorded maximum cluster mean for the characters namely plant height at maturity, number of branches, number of capsules per plant, capsule breadth, number of seeds per capsule, 1000 seed weight and seed yield per plant. The characters viz., days to 50% flowering contributed the maximum (39.31%) for the genetic divergence followed by seed yield per plant (20.68%) and 1000 seed weight (15.63%). The genotype VRI 1registered maximum mean among all the quantitative traits followed VRI 1, GT 10 and VRI 2 hold great potential for improving and stabilizing the seed yield.

sesame, D2 analysis, Genetic divergence

"D2 ANALYSIS FOR ESTIMATING GENETIC DIVERGENCE IN SESAME GENOTYPES (Sesamum indicum L.) ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 2, page no.931-939, February-2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIRAB06176.pdf

"D2 ANALYSIS FOR ESTIMATING GENETIC DIVERGENCE IN SESAME GENOTYPES (Sesamum indicum L.) ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 2, page no. pp931-939, February-2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIRAB06176.pdf