The nature and the magnitude of genetic divergence was estimated in 35 deepwater rice genotypes using Mahalonobis’s D2 – statistics. The genotypes were grouped onto 10 clusters showing fair degree of relationship between geographic distribution and genetic divergence. Cluster IV showed maximum intra cluster divergence while inter cluster divergence was maximum between clusters IX and X. All the minimum and maximum cluster mean values were distributed in
relatively distant clusters. Traits like plant yield, days to 50% flowering, EBT/m2 and plant height were the major contributors to genetic divergence.
