Tehlan, S.K.Shivaprasad M.K.2017-12-042017-12-042017http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810036778The present investigation entitled “Genetic divergence studies in coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.)” was conducted at Research Farm of the Department of Vegetable Science, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, during winter season of 2014-15 and the laboratory study was carried out in the Department of Molecular Biology, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics during 2015-16. 113 coriander genotypes collected from different regions were sown in field following randomized block design with three replications. To study DUS characters, the genotypes were observed visually and categorized into different classes based on different morphological traits with the help of crop descriptors. It is concluded that the morphological traits like leaf luster of longest basal leaf, leaf margin of longest basal leaf, leaf colour of longest basal leaf, stem pigmentation, corolla colour, nodal pigmentation, growth habit, seed colour, seed shape, seed size and seed ridge proved best for identification purpose, and from this, it is also evident that there was a sufficient diversity for these traits in genotypes under study. Variability studies reveal that there was a wide range of genetic diversity for yield and its attributing traits in 113 coriander genotypes, which were evaluated under field conditions. The genotypic as well as phenotypic correlations showed that the seed yield per plant had significant and positive association with number of seeds per umbel, umbelletes per umbel, umbels per plant and secondary branches. Path analysis revealed that high positive direct effects were exerted by traits like number of seeds per umbel, umbel per plant, length of longest basal leaves and test weight on seed yield per plant, these are importance in crop improvement, as they directly contribute towards seed yield per plant and in divergence study genotypes of cluster III and VI showed highest mean values for seed yield per plant. Hybridization between these clusters and other with highest mean for yield contributing traits can give promising results. However, for more precise and accurate identification, the modern biotechnological tool like molecular markers could be utilized. RAPD and ISSR were employed to assess the genetic diversity in best performing 48 coriander genotypes, which were selected among 113 genotypes evaluated, which gave the clear picture of diversity existence in genotypes at genetic level as DNA markers are not influenced by environmental effects or plant growth stages, and both RAPD and ISSR markers proved best for assessing genetic diversity.ennullThesis