GENETIC DIVERGENCE IN WHEAT UNDER DIFFERENT ENV IRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

• Published in: Cereal research communications 1978-01, Vol.6 (3), p.307-317
• Main Authors: JATASRA, D.S., PARODA, R.S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agriculture; Cereal grains; Environmental disorders; Evolutionary genetics; Genetic diversity; Genotypes; Geography; Grains; Plant breeding; Wheat
• ISSN: 0133-3720; 1788-9170

A quantitative assessment of genetic diversity for a set of eleven characters related to productivity and survival was undertaken in ten diverse genotypes of wheat under six environments including stress and non-stress environments utilizing multi-variate analysis. Genetic diversity and geographical diversity did not appear to be related. The investigations brought out the fact that environmental conditions exert considerable impact on the clustering pattern in different environments. Causes of variation in clustering pattern in different environments like differential gene expression in different environments and presence of genotype-environment interactions have been discussed. Need for making such studies in optimal environmental conditions which facilitates the fullest expression of the genotypes in respect of various characters or to conduct such studies under multiple environmental conditions has been emphasised. It was also observed that characters like height, 100-grain weight, weight per ear and grain yield which contributèd maximum toward total divergence appeared to be more potent factors for differentiation among genotypes. Based on inter-cluster distances, the crosses between varieties like UP 301 and Agra Local which fall in the most divergent groups were suggested.