Germplasm Introduction and Genetic Divergence in Amaranth

• Published in: International journal of vegetable science Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 54 - 63
• Main Author: Oduwaye, O. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 02.01.2017; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Amaranthus; cluster; FASTCLUS; genebank; Mahanalobis; underutilized crop
• ISSN: 1931-5260; 1931-5279
• DOI: 10.1080/19315260.2016.1174969

Development and evaluation of genetic diversity is necessary for selection decisions in breeding. Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) is used as vegetable in the human diet. Thirty-one genotypes of amaranth, collected from the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Centre (AVRDC), Tanzania; Research Institute and Crop Production (RICP), Czech Republic; National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), Nigeria; and National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Nigeria, were evaluated for grain yield and related characters. Entries were evaluated in 2012 to determine genetic diversity among germplasm. There was a Genotype × Location interaction for most traits. Genotype Z150 from RICP had the highest grain yield at Ibadan; NG103 from NACGRAB had the highest value at Abeokuta (48.8). Genetic divergence was generally similar among germplasm from the same collection center, though a few clustered irrespective of collection center. High Mahalanobis squared distance (D 2 ) occurred between cluster III and cluster IV (39.84). Genotypes in cluster IV were related to high grain yield (47.47 g); cluster I was associated with low days to 50% flowering (64.0). Introduction of germplasm from different geographic collection centers offers opportunity for genetic diversity and improvement of amaranth.