Genetic Diversity of Genotypes of Durum Wheat (Triticum Turgidum L.) Genotypes Based on Cluster and Principal Component Analyses

Abstract

Genetic diversity is the basis of the natural evolution of plant breeding and biological system are important components of sustainability. The aim of this study was to evaluate 116 genotypes of <em>Triticum turgidum </em>from seven countries in terms of morphological traits. The results showed that high significant differences among the genotypes. The correlation between grain yield and weight per spike was significant and positive, while the correlation between days to heading, length of peduncle and plant height was significant and negative. The factor analysis classified four main groups which accounted for 74.4% of the total variability. The results indicated the presence of high genetic diversity among the genotypes. The tested genotypes were classified in three groups according to the linkage distance analysis. Our findings suggest that the parents from divergent clusters can be used for hybridization to isolate useful recombinants in the segregating generations, the genetics and breeding programs for improvement of durum wheat.