Abstract

Substantial genetic diversity among the 40 cold tolerant rice genotypes for components of fitness between and within the geographic regions existed. The clustering pattern indicated that geographic diversity was not a reliable criterion of genetic diversity in cold tolerant rice. The genotypes related by their origin of region or by pedigree tended to group in the same cluster in general. There was a wide range of variation in the intra-cluster mean values in respect of each of the quantitative triats studied. The yield component traits viz., number of grains per panicle and number of productive tillers contributed the most to the genetic divergence between the genotypes.

Keywords: Genetic divergence, Cold tolerant rice, Grain yield.