This study aimed at investigating genetic divergence in twenty genotypes of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) and determines the characters responsible for the variation. The twenty genotypes were collected from different locations within southern Nigeria (Anambra, Enugu, Lagos, Ondo and Ogun). The experiment was carried out at the Lagos State University Botanical Garden using a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. The collected data were subjected to Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Factor Analysis to evaluate the patterns of variation in these genotypes. Two out of the twenty four principal components had eigen values greater than 2.0. The first five principal component jointly accounted for 88.61% of the total variation among the genotypes. Twenty factors were identified. The first two factors had eigen value of 5.28 and 2.05 respectively while only four factors accounted for 81.47% of the total variance. The two analysis methods indicated vine length, leaf size, number of branches, vine diameter, number of leaves, petiole length as traits that contributed more to the total variation observed and as such can be used in discriminating among the genotypes. Configurations of the 20 genotypes along the first three principal component axes shows that L4, N4, N3, O1, E1, A1, N1 and A3 were most distant from all other genotypes and are high yielding in terms of vine length, number of branches and leaf size therefore can be selected directly. The complementarity effect of the principal component analysis and factor analysis, suggest the existence of genetic variability among the genotypes.

Multivariate statistical methods are utilized to estimate accurate genetic diversity in crop breeding programmes. This study aimed at investigating genetic divergence in fifteen genotypes of Jute (Corchorus olitorius) and determines the characters responsible for the variation using Factor and Principal component analysis. The fifteen genotypes were collected from different locations within southern Nigeria. The experiment was carried out at the Lagos State University Botanical Garden using a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. The collected data were subjected to Factor Analysis and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to evaluate the patterns of variation in these accessions. The PCA accounted for over 92% of the total variation in the first five PCs while Factor Analysis accounted for over 86% of the variation in the first four factors. Contributions' of number of leaves per plant, plant height, number of branches, stipule length, leaf length, petiole length and blade length as identified by the two analysis methods leads to the conclusion that these traits contributes more to the total variation observed in the fifteen genotypes of Corchorus and therefore can be used in discriminating among the genotypes. The configuration of the genotypes along the axes of PC1 and PC2 identified genotype NG/179 as high yielding genotypes in terms of number of leaves and plant height and therefore can be selected directly. The results, as captured by the complementarity effect of the principal component analysis and factor analysis, suggest the existence of genetic variability among the genotypes.

Mutation breeding is the process of exposing seeds to chemicals or radiation in order to generate mutants with desirable traits. This study is aimed at assessing the genetic variability among mutant lines of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) generated from a variety of tomato (Roma VF) using two different chemomutagens. The collected seeds were exposed to different concentrations of Sodium azide and Colchicine with varied period of exposure. The seeds were planted and selected 49 positive mutant lines were assessed for morphological genetic variability and yield. 18 mutant lines that produced fruits were tagged and selected. The fruits of the selected mutants were harvested and the seeds (M2 seeds) were subsequently planted for divergence analysis. Ten quantitative characters and twenty qualitative characters were scored using IPGRI standard tomato descriptor. The potted experiment was laid out in the Green House, using Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. The results of this study revealed a high genetic divergence among the mutant lines in both quantitative and qualitative characters. There was significant LSD (0.05) for Germination percentage (7.66), Plant height at maturity (7.05) and Number of leaves at maturity (4.56). The yield (fresh fruit weight) varied significantly, ranging from 10.00g for LeMT29 to 319.70g for LeMT7 respectively.Fruit and plant qualitative characters equally exhibit variation. These observations suggest the existence of genetic variability among the different mutant tomato lines.Further selection and field trials is recommended to identify suitable and desirable lines for possible variety release.