Dhoot, RupalYadav, Yogendar2024-05-242024-05-242023-08-14Yadav, Yogendar 2023. Genetic Divergence Studies in Foxtail millet (Setaria italica L. P. Beauv). M.Sc. Thesis, College of Agriculture, Agriculture University, Jodhpurhttps://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810209411An experiment entitled “Genetic Divergence Studies in Foxtail millet (Setaria italica L. P. Beauv)’’ was conducted with 36 genotypes in khraif season 2022 at Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Jodhpur (Rajasthan). The experiment was put out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. The observations of days to 50% flowering, number of productive tillers per plant, plant height, days to maturity, flag leaf length, flag leaf width, ear length, ear width, straw weight, harvest index, 1000 grain weight, grain protein, SCMR and grain yield per plant were recorded. Analysis of variance exhibited significant difference for all the trait, indicating the good amount of inherent variation were present. The phenotypic coefficient of variance was higher as compare to genotypic coefficient of variance for all the trait under study. The highest value of PCV and GCV was recorded for straw weight and chlorophyll content, while high heritability with high genetic advance were number of productive tillers per plant, ear width, straw weight and chlorophyll content. Analysis of correlation coefficient indicted that the grain yield per plant had positive significant correlation with ear width and straw weight. According to path analysis, the trait like flag leaf length, harvest index, straw weight and SCMR showed positive direct effect on grain yield per plant. The genetic divergence calculated by Mahalanobis D² statistics, grouped 36 genotypes into 11 cluster. Maximum intra cluster distance was recorded in cluster Ⅸ followed by cluster Ⅳ and cluster Ⅰ. Maximum inter cluster distance recorded between cluster Ⅲ and XI. Among the genotype showed a good level of divergence. Out of 36 genotypes GP-21, SiA3156, GP-217, SiA3222, GP-205, SiA3058, GP-118 and GP-180 were found superior in grain yield and for other characters based on mean performance. Hence, these genotypes would be used as parental source for future breeding programme.EnglishThesis