Assessment of Genetic Diversity Among Rice Genotypes in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State Nigeria Based on Agro-Morphological Traits.

Rice is an important staple food crop valued for its high nutritional values, being rich in calorie, fibre, vitamins and minerals and low in cholesterol and sodium. This research project was designed to study the genetic diversity and relatedness of 61 rice genotypes, made up of landraces, exotic varieties and inbred lines, based on agronomic and morphological traits using numerical taxonomic techniques. The rice varieties were field evaluated during 2012 and 2013 wet seasons at the research farm of the Biotechnology Research & Development Centre, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria. Data were collected from seventeen agronomic and morphological traits to study the diversity pattern among them. Cluster analysis of these traits clearly showed the existence of wide variation among the rice genotypes. Classification of genotypes using cluster analysis indicated seven clusters. The clustering pattern was independent of the origin or location of each genotype rather it was based on the average performance of each of the genotypes used in the study. The landrace genotypes were distributed in five out of seven clusters in 2012 and across all clusters in 2013 growing season and combined analysis of the seasons, while the exotic (Indonesian and released varieties) were limited to five, four, and five clusters in 2012, 2013 and combined analysis of the growing seasons, respectively. IRRI and IWA (inbred) lines were limited to five and six clusters in the two growing seasons, as well as the combined analysis of the growing seasons, respectively. The diversity pattern revealed highest level of genetic diversity among the landraces compared to the exotic varieties or inbred lines. Grouping of genotypes and their characterization provided useful information about their relatedness and possible use in crop improvement programs. Candidate farmer’s genotypes were identified which could be purified and released as farmer’s varieties.

Key Word: Genetic diversity, agronomical traits, morphological traits, rice genotypes.