author(s)
AW More, RR Dhutmal, Syed Asgar and HV Kalpande

abstract
Aims: The present study was carried out on a diverse array of sorghum genotypes to assess the genetic diversity in 116 sorghum accessions for shoot fly tolerance traits and grain yield. The germplasm lines along with four checks (One resistant check IS-18851, one susceptible check DJ-6514 and two varietal checks SPV-1411 and PVK-801) were planted in randomized block design with two replications during rabi 2015-16 at Sorghum Research Station, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani. Observations were recorded on five randomly selected plants in each plot and replication for grain yield, yield contributing traits and following shoot fly tolerant associated traits from each replication. 120 genotypes including 4 checks were grouped into sixteen clusters with variable number of entries revealing the presence of considerable amount of genetic diversity in the material. Among the sixteen clusters, Cluster III was the largest involving 40 genotypes. Out of the 18 characters studied, trichome density (adaxial and abaxial) contributed maximum (43.42%) and (39.06%) towards genetic diversity, respectively. The relative contributions of different traits towards genetic divergence was plant height (8.03%), leaf angle (2.98%), chlorophyll content (1.50%), days to 50% flowering (1.29%), leaf length (0.90%) and grain yield per plant (0.64%). Cluster II, VI, IX and X exhibiting shoot fly tolerant sources as high mean for shoot fly resistant parameters has good scope for future breeding programme. Genotypes IS 17757, IS 33770, IS 33746, PVR 658 and IS 40269 with less dead heart per cent and shoot fly resistant parameters may be used as promising sources for breeding shoot fly resistant genotypes.