Study of genetic diversity in desert and culinary types of banana varieties

Abstract

The data taken from the Bana Research Station, Kannara for 30 culinary varieties for 13 morphological characters and 56 dessert varieties for 12 morphological characters were the base material for this study. Genetic divergences in the varieties were studied using D2-statistic and canonical analysis. The varieties were grouped into clusters by using Tooher’s minimum generalized distance concept. The same clustering pattern was obtained through canonical analysis. In the case of culinary varieties 12 clusters were formed consisting 11 varieties in the first cluster 5 each in second and third and the others were single variety clusters. Whereas the dessert varieties were grouped into 7 clusters 13 varieties in the first cluster 17 in the second cluster, 20 in the third, 2 each in the fourth and fifth and the last two were single variety clusters. The intra and inter cluster distance were diagrammatically represented in a two dimensional space. The scatter diagram showing the mean values of the canonical variates in order to have an idea of the appropriateness of the clustering pattern were also formed in both the type of varieties. In the case of culinary varieties the character bunch weight and in the case of dessert varieties the character finger length was contributing maximum towards divergence. The character girth was contributing minimum towards divergence in both the cases.