Abstract

The present investigation was carried out to assess the genetic diversity among 35 rice germplasm lines for 19 different traits including quantitative and grain quality traits. The genotypes were grouped into 8 clusters and out of these maximum number of genotypes were placed in cluster I (25 genotypes) followed by Cluster II (4 genotypes). The highest intra-cluster distance was observed for cluster I whereas, highest inter-cluster distance was recorded between cluster VII and cluster VIII. Cluster III, cluster V and cluster VIII showed the highest cluster mean values for most of the traits studied. The maximum contribution towards the genetic divergence was exhibited by spikelets per panicle followed by 1000 grain weight, days to 75% maturity and plant height. These traits, hence could be focused for selection improving grain yield. The germplasm lines falling in different clusters with high mean for grain yield and other component traits can be utilized for hybridization programme to obtain elite segregants.