Genetic divergence studied in quality protein maize inbreds (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

Thirty quality protein maize inbreds were evaluated for genetic divergence through analysis using Mahalanobis D2 statistic for a set of 15 quantitative characters. The analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the traits under study. The thirty inbred lines were grouped into six different clusters using D2 statistic. Highest inter cluster distance was observed between cluster V and VI (3990.93) followed by cluster I and V (2946.25) and cluster III and VI (2195.13) on the basis of their genetic distances. Genotypes, Dholi QPM-2009, DMR QPM-03-103-6, DMR QPM-03-103-7, 2006-6-CML-471, POP 61-CL QPM TEYF-S4-2-2-1-2-B-2-B-B, POP-61 CL QPM TEYF-S4-2-2-2-2-B-1-B-B from these clusters may be selected as parents for hybridization programme for developing new hybrid combinations.