Genetic diversity among 24 genotypes (22 varieties/collection belonging to Psidium guajava and 2 other species) of guava were characterized using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Out of 29 RAPD primers used, 10 were found to be monomorphic and 19 showed polymorphism among guava genotypes. Number of alleles detected using polymorphic RAPD primer ranged between 2 (OPA13A) to 11 (OPF02A) with an average of 6 amplicons/primer. High rate of polymorphism was observed reasonably for OPF02A, OPH19A, OPF13A, OPA13A and OPB13A primers. The PIC value ranged from 0.49-0.89 indicates that the markers were quite informative. Based on molecular analysis, Sasri Selection and Sasni Selection were grouped with Allahabad Safeda. Tamil Nadu Selection and Lalit genotypes formed a group at 50% similarity. Psidum freidrichsthalianum formed a group with black guava. Molecular analysis showed a high degree of variation among analyzed guava genotypes indicating an important source of genetic diversity that can be used in the guava improvement program

A set of thirty genotype of cluster bean were studied for genetic divergence analysis utilizing Mahalanobis D2 technique. The analysis of data revealed that significant difference was observed among the genotypes for all the traits. Based on the genetic distance (D2 value), the thirty genotypes were grouped into 8 clusters. Of the 8 clusters, cluster I was largest with 14 genotype followed by cluster IV with 7 genotypes while Cluster II, Cluster III, Cluster V and Cluster VI had solitary genotype. Therefore, selection and intercrossing of genotypes involved in these clusters would be useful for inducing variability in the respective characters. Average intra and inter-cluster D2 values among 30 genotypes revealed that cluster I recorded maximum intra cluster distance followed by cluster II revealing thereby the existence of diverse genotypes in these clusters. Minimum inter-cluster distance was present between clusters I and cluster VII. The intra-cluster distance was maximum in cluster III followed by cluster II and cluster IV.

Diversity among the genotypes for important target traits is essential to achieve crop improvement goals. A set of 340 groundnut genotypes included in Genomic Selection Panel (GSP) was evaluated at disease hotspot location to capture genetic diversity for resistance to foliar fungal diseases, yield and nutritional quality traits. The results revealed significant genotypic variation for all the traits under study. Cluster analysis based on phenotypic data of 19 traits grouped 340 genotypes into 15 clusters. The inter-cluster distance was high between clusters XIV and XV (894.73) while the intra-cluster distance was high for cluster XIII (120.21). Maximum contribution towards total divergence was by hundred kernel mass (24.42%), followed by days to maturity (15.95%), disease severity scores of rust (9.18%) at 90 DAS, plant height (8.87%) and disease severity scores of late leaf spot (7.37%) at 90 DAS. The performance of different botanical varieties revealed that var vulgaris (Spanish bunch) had high yield potential; var peruviana had an early maturity and var hypogaea (Virginia runner) had high Oleic/Linoleic acid ratio. A total of 50 genotypes identified resistant against both the diseases, of which 36 including 25 from ssp. fastigiata var vulgaris and 11 from ssp. hypogaea var hypogaea were advance breeding line that can be used in breeding program without tedious efforts of pre-breeding. Pod yield of resistant advance breeding lines varied from 1230 to 3560 kg/ha. The genotypes ICGVs 01274, 01361, 03043,05155, 05163, 06142, 07120 and 07235 recorded pod yield ≥ 2500 kg/ha with the disease severity score ≤ 3 for both the diseases. The genotypes ICGV 05155 (101 days) and ICGV 86699 (103 days) reported early maturing with disease severity score ≤ 3 for both the diseases are suggested to use in breeding program to combine diseases resistance with early maturity along with high pod yield potential.