Morphological characterization and genetic diversity of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.)

Genetic diversity among 34 linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) genotypes were studied using, 18 agro-morphological traits as per the standard descriptors of DUS, UPOV 2011 at the experimental farm of the Department of Crop Improvement, CSKHPKV, Palampur. Six genotypes were found to be distinctive on the basis ofmorphological traits. Results revealed that sufficient genetic variability was observed for all the characters studied based on various genetic variability parameters. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that, out of total principal components, three PCs contributed 71.60% to the total variance amongst the genotypes assessed for nine agronomic traits. PC I contributed maximum towards the variability (36.91%) followed by PC II (22.15%) and PC III (12.54%). Cluster analysis clearly differentiated 34 genotypes into three clusters with cluster III having highest 15 genotypes. Sufficient variability was observed in the genotypes studied based on phenotypic and genotypic variance, principal component analysis and cluster analysis which could be utilized by researchers, in breeding programme and the genetic distinctiveness in the genotypes can be protected under PPVFRA.