Studies on Genetic Divergence in Upland Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Abstract

Genetic divergence in twenty nine upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) genotypes were studied for ninetccn
yield allributes and quality characters. The pallern of grouping of genotypes reveled that the genetic diversity is
not fully related to the geographical diversity. The inter-cluster distances were found to be greater than intra-cluster
distances, revealing considerable amount of genetic diversity among genotype studied. Intra-cluster distances, intercluster
distances, cluster mean for all the characters studied and cluster-wise performance ofall the genotypes suggcst
that the genotypes selected for improvement of yield and quality components are JK-54. Khandwa-2. CNH-120MB,
LRA-5166, CAT-834, C-1084, C-YG-2859 and JBWR-13-1. The hybridization programme with the selected
genotypes by considering inter-cluster distances may produce high magnitude of heterosis or desirable segregants.
which would be meaningful for improvement in yield and quality attributes of cotton