Genetic divergence among pigeonpea acessions based on morfhoagronomic traits in the region in cariri of Paraíba, Brazil

Abstract

In order to quantify the genetic divergence between 22 accessions of pigeonpea by analyzing clusters based on morpho agronomic characters, in addition to indicating more promising crosses to continue the pigeonpea species improvement program, this study was carried out. The experimental design used was the completely randomized design. The averaging cluster test was performed, according to Scott Knott at 5% probability. The data of means of the characters of these accessions were submitted to the analysis of genetic divergence. The method of grouping by unweighted-pair group method with arithmetic means was applied, using the generalized Mahalanobis distance (D2) and Tocher's grouping method. The relative importance of the characters was also assessed. There is ample genetic variability between pigeonpea accessions, present in the germplasm bank, and easily identified by means of morpho agronomic characters. Four distinct groups of pigeonpea accessions were detected, showing the existence of diversity between accessions. The most promising crossings are those involving the accessions of distinct and more divergent groups as parents: Groups IV and I, IV and II, IV and III, III and II, and II and I. The number of days to flowering was the character that most contributed to genetic divergence.