Assessment of Genetic Divergence in Melon (Cucumis melo L.)

Fifty one genotypes were used to study the various plant parameters to assess the genetic divergence using D² statistic. The genotypes were grouped into 13 clusters. The intra-cluster distance was maximum in cluster VIII and minimum in clusters IX, X, XI, XII and XIII. The inter-cluster distance was maximum between cluster VII and XII and minimum between cluster I and II. Maximum divergence was provided by node at which first female flower opened and minimum by total fruit yield per vine.