author(s)
Satish Paul and Arpna Kumari

abstract
Genetic variability and divergence studies were conducted among 18 genotypes of Linseed. Phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the observed characters. Based on the present study, high heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for seed yield per plot and straw yield per plot. The result suggested the importance of additive gene action for their inheritance and improvement could be brought about by phenotypic selection. The cluster analysis grouped the genotypes into 2, 3 and 3 clusters in Env. I, Env. II and pooled over the environments, respectively indicating that clustering pattern was different in Env. I. Crosses involving parents belonging to most divergent clusters would be expected to manifest maximum heterosis and release of desirable recombinants in segregating generations. Therefore, in Env. I, parents should be selected from cluster combination from clusters I and II, in Env. II and in pooled over the environments from clusters I and III. The character 1000-seed weight contributed maximum towards total genetic divergence in Env. I, Env. II and in pooled over the environment among 18 genotypes under study.