Genetic divergence studies for yield and yield components in landraces of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The present investigation was carried out with 36 rice landraces along with four checks to estimate genetic divergence for yield and yield component. Principal component analysis showed that first four principal components viz., PC1, PC2, PC3 and PC4 with eigen value more than one and contributed 86.74% of cumulative variance. Hierarchical cluster analysis by ward’s minimum variance method grouped 40 genotypes including checks into six clusters. Of all the six clusters, cluster III was the largest comprising 14 genotypes followed by cluster I with 11 genotypes, cluster II with seven genotypes, cluster IV with four genotypes, cluster V with three genotypes and cluster VI with one genotype i.e., monogenotypic cluster. The 2D and 3D plots from principal component analysis and clustering pattern from hierarchical cluster analysis indicated that genotypes namely Arakuloya, Narayanakami, Kujipataliya, Tandasagar and Chintalurisannalu were most divergence for most of the yield and yield components. Molecular diversity analysis using 15 SSR markers revealed that six markers viz., RM154, RM404, RM402, RM85 and RM21 showed polymorphism. Among these, the markers namely RM404 and RM21 recorded higher PIC values. These markers can be considered as more informative and capable of discriminating the genotypes more effectively.