Intra- and inter-cluster distance analysis in coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) genotypes under different seasons

An investigation was carried out at Department of Spices and Plantation Crops, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during three seasons viz., season I (June 2008-August 2008), season II (October 2008-December 2008) and season III (June 2009-August 2009). From the results of intra- and inter-cluster distance analysis, during first season, cluster I comprising 61 genotypes had the highest intra-cluster distance followed by cluster III with five genotypes. In the second season, cluster I comprising 68 genotypes had the highest intra-cluster distance followed by cluster II with three genotypes. During the third season also, cluster I comprising 64 genotypes had the highest intra-cluster distance followed by clusters II and IV with three genotypes. Considering the inter-cluster distances, it was the highest between clusters II and X during the first season. In the second season, inter-cluster distance was the highest between clusters II and V. In the third season, inter-cluster distance was the highest between clusters V and VIII. Also, the mean performance of green yield and other important contributing characters such as plant height, number of branches, number of leaves, weight of leaves, weight of stem, weight of root and biomass yield was the highest for clusters X, V and VIII in first, second and third seasons. Keeping this in view, it appears that clusters X (CS 101), V (CS 101, UD 685) and VIII (CS 101) during first, second and third seasons, would exhibit high heterosis as well as high level of production, involved in the hybridization programme.