Selection of pigeon pea parents genotypes based on multivariate genetic divergence

Abstract

Twenty-five pigeon pea genotypes were evaluated based on eight characteristics. By means of multivariate technics their genetic divergences were estimated in order to obtain the basic populations to be used in a breeding program. The grouping by the Tocher method, based on Mahalanobis generalized distances, made it possible to organize the 25 genotypes in five groups. Based on genetic divergence and on key agronomic characteres it was recominended to cross: the genotypes 21 and 24 (group IV) with genotypes 4 and 5 (group III) and with genotypes 1, 2, 3, 6 and 8 (group I); the genotypes 4 and 5 with the genotypes 1, 2, 3, 6 and 8.