Abstract

                                Mahalanobis D2 analysis was employed to study the genetic diversity of 50 sesame geno types at the Regional Research Station, Vridhachalam during kharif 1992. A wide genetic diversity was observed among the 50 genotypes tested. Based on D² analysis of Mahalanobis, the genotypes were grouped into four clusters. The clustering patten indicated that the geographic diversity need not necessarily be related to the genetic diversity. This could be evidenced from the study that genotypes from the same eco-geographic region did scatter in four clusters. Similarly, genotypes from different eco-geographic regions were identified in one cluster. The inter- cluster distance study revealed that cluster IV followed by cluster III were found to be highly divergent from the other two clusters. The genotypes in these two clusters may possibly be utilized for hybridization programme through suitable breeding programmes for the successful exploitation of heterosis in sesame.

Key words : Sesame, Genetic, Divergence