Characterization of maize germplasm (Zea mays L.) based on morphological descriptors and molecular markers under mid hill conditions of North-Western Himalayas

Abstract

A major challenge facing those involved in the testing of new plant varieties for Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) is the need to compare them against all those of ‘common knowledge’. A set of thirty three exotic germplasm lines was used to compare how morphological characterization and SSR molecular marker described variety relationships. All the exotic germplasm were confirmed distinct on the basis of morphological and molecular marker. The results revealed that, among the 33 germplasm lines, non-hierarchical Euclidean cluster analysis germplasm lines were grouped into nine clusters. Among them cluster IV, V, VI, VIII and IX were monogenotypic whereas rests were polygenotypic based on genetic divergence and EC444416 had the distinguishable character of absence of anthocyanin colouration of brace roots. Based on polymorphism exhibited by SSR markers, dendrogram was constructed using Jaccard’s similarity coefficient the germplasm lines were grouped into two major clusters. In the present study, the molecular markers also exposed useful genetic diversity and the visual displays appeared to disperse the lines somewhat more evenly over the plot than the morphological methods, suggesting that the maize germplasm collection is a rich source of material with adequate variation for future use in breeding programs.