The investigation revealed that the 54 genotypes (10 lines + 4 testers + 40 F1’s) of sponge gourd in randomized block design with three replications during two seasons were grouped into 8 distinct non over lapping clusters which indicated presence of considerable diversity among the genotypes during both seasons, which shows clusters contained genotypes of heterogenous origin. It is also suggested that there is no parallelism between genetic and geographic diversity. Cluster I had highest number of genotypes (32 and 36) while, the monogenotypic clusters II, III, IV and VI (1 and 1) having minimum genotype in both the years, respectively. In Y1, the intra-cluster D2 values ranged from 0.00 to 420.45 while the inter-cluster values ranged from 63.09 to 504.73. The highest intra-cluster distance was 420.45 for cluster VIII, while lowest one was zero for monogenotypic clusters II, III, IV and VI. The maximum inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster II and cluster VIII (504.73). In Y2, the intra-cluster D2 values ranged from 0.00 to 151.57 while the inter-cluster value varied from 57.56 to 426.59. The highest intra-cluster distance was shown by cluster VIII (151.57), whereas it was zero for mono-genotype clusters II, III IV and VI. The maximum inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster V and cluster VIII (426.59) suggesting that the genotypes/F1’s belonging to these clusters may be used as parents/crosses for hybridization programme to develop desirable type F1 or segregates because crosses between genetically divergent lines/crosses will generate heterotic F1s. Highest inter-cluster value indicated that the selected breeding lines were highly divergent. Cluster means for different traits indicated considerable differences between the clusters. Cluster VI, VII and VIII in Y1 and cluster V, II and III in Y2 had in general medium mean performance for most of the characters. Maximum cluster means for average fruit yield per plant was observed in cluster II followed by cluster VI in Y1, while in Y2 cluster VI recorded maximum cluster means for average fruit yield followed by cluster I. In Y1, vine length (m) contributed maximum contribution towards total divergence while minimum contribution was reflected by days to first fruit harvest in both the years, respectively.

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