Genetic divergence study in salinity stress tolerant maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate the genetic diversity of some maize inbreds under salinity stress condition using Mahalanobiss statistic (D2) and principal component analysis. Analysis of variance showed significant difference for all the characters. Results of multivariate analysis revealed that seventeen inbred lines formed five clusters at 12 dS level of salinity. The highest intra-cluster distance was recorded in cluster IV containing three genotypes and the lowest was in cluster V having one genotype. The inter cluster D² values revealed maximum distance among the clusters. The highest inter cluster distance was observed between clusters IV & III and lowest was between V & I. Cluster IV had the highest cluster means for cob height, tassel length, cob length, SPAD value, number of seeds/cob, 100 seed weight, cob diameter and grain yield per plant. Considering cluster distance, inter-genotypic distance, cluster mean and other agronomic performances the genotypes CZ29, CZ33 and P43 from cluster IV and E135, E158, E169, P29 and P45 from cluster III may be considered as better parents for future hybridization programs to obtain desirable segregates in respect of different yield and yield contributing characters under salinity stress.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjar.v39i4.22540

Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 39(4): 621-630, December 2014