Genetic diversity analysis of mango genotypes using morphological and quality traits via D² statistics
Diversity Analysis of Mango Genotypes
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https://doi.org/10.58993/ijh/2026.83.1.2Keywords:
Mango genotypes, genetic diversity, mahalanobis D2, morphological traits, breedingIssue
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Copyright (c) 2026 Amit Kumar, Arvind Kumar, Satya Prakash, Vibhu Pandey

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The present investigation was carried out during two consecutive years (2021-22 and 2022-23) on twelve mango (Mangifera indica L.) genotypes from an 8–10-year-old orchard to evaluate morphological and quality traits and assess genetic diversity. Fruits were harvested based on maturity indices such as skin color, flesh color and aroma, with undamaged fruits selected for evaluation. A total of 192 fruits representing 48 treatments were analyzed under a Randomized Block Design (RBD). The genotypes studied included Ambika, Pusa Arunima, Dashehari-51, Kesar, Pusa Surya, Mallika, Amrapali, Burma Surakha, Neelum Chausa, Mithua Malda, Rataul and Saurav. Multivariate analysis through Mahalanobis D² statistics and Tocher’s method was employed to classify genotypes into distinct clusters. Pooled data over two years revealed four clusters, with Cluster IV recording the highest mean fruit yield per tree (338.31 fruits), followed by Cluster II (268.15) and Cluster III (234.85). The maximum inter-cluster distance was observed between Cluster IV and Cluster II (D=9.789), indicating substantial genetic divergence, while intra-cluster distance ranged from 0.01 (Cluster IV) to 3.114 (Cluster I). Cluster I, comprising six genotypes, exhibited the highest intra-cluster diversity. Based on inter-cluster distances, hybridization between Cluster IV (Amrapali) and Cluster II (Kesar, Burma Surakha and Rataul) is suggested to exploit heterosis and develop superior recombinants. The findings highlight significant genetic diversity among mango genotypes, providing useful information for selecting promising parents in breeding programs aimed at enhancing yield and quality attributes.Abstract
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