Principal component and diversity analysis for discrimination of genotypes and yield related traits in pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.]

A total of 25 pearl millet genotypes were evaluated for nine traits by PCA and cluster analysis to determine the genetic diversity among the individuals. Three of the nine principal components (PCs) had more than 1.0 eigen values, indicating a total variability of 68.71 per cent. From the D² analysis, five major groups were formed as clusters I, II, III, IV and V consisting of 18, 1, 4, 1 and 1 genotypes, respectively. Clusters I and IV had desirable mean values for plant height, number of productive tillers/plant, thousand grain weight and single plant yield. Maximum variability in the experimental material was observed to be contributed by single plant yield, followed by leaf blade length and leaf sheath length. From the PCA and cluster analysis, the genotypes CO 10, PT 6481, PT 6676, PT 6475, PT 6570 and PT 6675 could be used for selection and hybridization. Genotypes in highly diverse clusters could be exploited for harnessing heterosis and for the selection of superior segregants.