International Journal of Plant & Soil Science

Thirty biofortified inbred lines of maize were evaluated for 11 parameters to study the genetic diversity by using D² statistics during kharif 2017in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications at Agricultural Research farm, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, BHU Varanasi. In present investigation all genotypes were grouped into ten cluster. Among the different clusters of inbred lines, the cluster II with 8 inbreds emerged as the largest cluster. The intra cluster D² value ranged from 10.82 to 44.89. The maximum intra cluster distance was observed for cluster X (D² = 44.89). The maximum inter cluster distance was observed between cluster V and VI (D² = 180.90) followed by cluster V and VII (D² = 166.10), cluster IV and V (D² = 155.60), cluster V and VIII (D² = 135.02) and cluster I and VI (D² = 127.66). The maximum contribution towards divergence was due to 100 seed weight (52.18%), thus, estimates of variation in seed weight could be used as a basis for selection of distantly related parents. Highest mean value for grain yield per plant (80.8) and Zn concentration (39.53) were observed in cluster IV, while the highest mean value for 100 seed weight was found in cluster V. Therefore, these clusters prove to be of prime importance for selection of parents in hybridization programme aimed at higher yield along with enhanced grain Zn concentration.