Comparative diversity analysis of oat genotypes under multi-cut system

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out with 92 genotypes of oat maintained in germplasm of Forage Section, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, CCS HAU, Hisar. The Mahalanobis’ D2 statistics for genetic divergence classified 92 oat genotypes into eleven and nine clusters in first cut and second cut, respectively in multi-cut system, indicating the presence of substantial genetic diversity in the evaluated germplasm. Average inter-cluster distance in Ist cut was found highest between cluster IX and XI (6.826) followed by cluster IV and VII (6.676). The minimum inter cluster distance was noticed between cluster V and VI (3.508). The minimum intra cluster distance was noticed in cluster VII (2.602) and highest intra-cluster distance was observed in cluster V­ (5.098).The clusters II, V, and XI were having higher cluster mean values for most of the characters studied. In 2nd cut, average inter-cluster distance was found highest between cluster II and VII (8.071), followed by cluster III and VI (7.857). The minimum inter cluster distance was noticed between cluster VI and VIII (5.766). The minimum intra cluster distance was noticed in cluster IV (4.899) and highest intra-cluster distance was observed in cluster VII­ (6.078).The clusters II, III, IV and IX had higher cluster mean values for most of the characters studied. The genotypes HFO-58, OS-6, KENT, HFO-851, HFO-867, HFO-502, HFO-508 and HFO-880 which performed better in both 1stcut and 2nd cut clusters might prove as potential tool for obtaining high heterotic response and consequently superior segregants for dry matter yield and quality in forage oat under multi-cut system.