GENETIC DIVERGENCE AND PRINCIPLE COMPONENT ANALYSIS IN UPLAND RAINFED RICE (ORYZA SATIVA L.)

Genetic divergence and principle component analysis were worked out in 73 upland rainfed rice genotypes consisting traditional varieties, local selections, advanced breeding lines and popular varieties for upland rainfed. ecology from different regions of India. Based on ten agro-morphological characters, these genotypes were grouped into nine clusters. The composition of different clusters varied from 1 to 23 genotypes. The maximum number of genotypes (23) was grouped in cluster IV followed by cluster V, I, VIII, II, IX, III, VI and I. Local selection from Marathwada region of Maharashtra exhibited maximum diversity and were represented in all the clusters except cluster VII. However, no parallelism was observed between geographic diversity and genetic diversity. Days to 50% flowering contributed maximum towards genetic divergence (40.64%) followed by effective tillers per m(2) (12.21%), yield per hectare (11.72%), spikelet fertility (10.69%) and plant height (8.98%). These could form the basis for selection of parents from distantly paced cluster to obtain high heterotic combinations. Six principle components, accounting 92.78 of total variance were obtained from principle component analysis. First three PCs i.e. PC I, PC II and PC III, contributed 28.71, 20.57 and 14.81% of total variance with the discriminating power of 2.87. 2.57 and 1.48. respectively.