Genetic Diversity with Cluster Analysis of Maize Genotypes (<i>Zea mays</i> L.)

The research investigation was carried out in the experimental area of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural university, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207, during the late Rabi season Mid December to May 2018 to study the genetic diversity with cluster analysis for the 35 maize genotypes as experimental materials that were laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The research work was oriented to calculate and estimate the yield factor through analyzing genetic diversity involving the yield contributing characters. The maximum yield per plant (117.51 g) was estimated in the genotype G12 (Pacific) and the minimum yield per plant (51.89 g) was recorded in the genotype G17 (Dekalb Super). Due to the crossing among the 35 maize genotypes, a wide range of divergence was observed in this experiment. The highest genotypes were included in cluster number V with 12 genotypes: BHM-5, PAC-60, Pacific-98, HP-222, Khai Bhutta, AS-999, Pioneer, Duranta, Kaveri 218, Chamak-07 and Golden-984. Here, the intra cluster distance was observed in cluster I (1.23), II (0.00), III (0.76), IV (2.08) and V (1.89) respectively. The highest intra cluster was recorded in cluster IV (2.08) and the lowest in cluster III (0.76) that showed that the genotypes within the intra cluster distances were closely related and inter cluster distances were recorded higher and larger than intra cluster distances. Between inter and intra cluster mean values, inter cluster distances were recorded higher than the intra cluster distances which indicated wider genetic diversity among the genotypes of different groups involved. The maximum value for the cluster distance D2 was recorded in cluster III (18.740) followed by cluster II (15.470, 13.032). The farthest cluster distance was recorded in cluster III that means it represented the highest diversified genotypes than other clusters. The nearest cluster distance was recorded in cluster IV and cluster V with 3.441 values which denoted the less diversified genotypes. In this case, days to male flowering, number of rows per cob, number of seeds per cob and 100-seed weight contributed towards cluster mean performance, the maximum in cluster number V.