Studies on Genetic Diversity for Quantitative Characters in Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.)

Abstract

The 30 genotypes of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) were studied for genetic diversity for nine different quantitative traits. Genotypes were grouped into eleven clusters. Cluster I was the largest cluster with 11 genotypes followed by cluster II with 7 genotypes, cluster V, IX, XI with 2 genotypes each while, cluster III, IV, VI, VII, VIII and X were solitary. The calculated D2 values varied from 2.37 to 12.05. The maximum intra cluster distance was observed for cluster XI and inter cluster distance was maximum between cluster X and V. Highest mean values showed by cluster IX for characters inflorescence length, inflorescence per plant, plant height, branches per plant, Seed volume weight, seed yield days to flowering and maturity. Cluster III showed highest mean value for characters branches per plant, inflorescence per plant, inflorescence length, inflorescence width and Seed volume weight. The character days to maturity (28.97 %) showed maximum contribution towards the total divergence. It was followed by inflorescence width (20.00 %), no of branches per plant (14.94 %), days to 50 % flowering (14.48 %), seed volume weight/10 ml (7.13 %) and inflorescence length (5.98). Based on inter-cluster distance, intra-cluster distance and per se performance the genotypes viz., EC-896097, EC-896108, EC-896212, EC-896209 and IC-411824 can be used for future breeding programme.