Genetic divergence in dessert varieties of banana

Abstract

Fifty six dessert varieties of banana grown at the Banana Research Station, Kannara were observed for 12 different morphological characters and the data were subjected to analysis of variance. Significant differences were recorded among all the varieties with regard to different morphological characters. By using D2 analysis the varieties were grouped into seven clusters which were homogeneous within and heterogeneous between. The same clustering pattern was obtained in the canonical analysis. The characters which were contributing maximum towards divergence were finger length and peduncle'length. The characters which were contributing minimum towards divergence were leaves per plant and girth. The same results were obtained through both the methods.