Genetic Diversity Assessment of Local Finger Millet Accessions Based on Morphological Characteristics

Abstract

Diversity of thirty three local finger millet accessions was assessed using eleven morphological characteristics in hierarchical cluster analysis with Euclidian distance using average linkage method based on the field experiment conducted |C at Grain Legumes and Oil crops Research and Development Center, Angunakolapellessa. Two major clusters were observed and first cluster was separated from main group at the Euclidian distance of 10. Ten better performing lines (Ac 12282, Ac 12276, Ac 12225, Ac 11264, Acl 1408, Ac 12269, Ac 12448, Ac 12465, Ac 12285 and Ac 12089) were selected based on weight of dried panicle, seed weight of panicle and milling percentage. Out of the ten best yield performers eight belong to one major cluster resembling the close relatedness of the accession having better yield performances and most probably belong to the same genetic makeup.