BIOCHEMICAL AND MOLECULAR DIVERSITY AND THEIR RE- LATIONSHIP TO LATE WILT DISEASE RESISTANCE IN YEL- LOW MAIZE INBRED LINES

Abstract

In an attempt to assess the genetic diversity among 18 maize inbred lines used in breeding programs and to identify specific genetic markers for late wilt disease resistance, esterase, peroxidase and RAPD markers were used. Fifteen RAPD primers were successful for evaluation of 18 inbred lines of maize. These biochemical and molecular techniques were efficient in detecting genetic polymorphism with an average of 100, 100 and 83.21% for esterase, peroxidase and RAPD, respectively. For cluster analysis, the 18 inbred lines were divided into four groups based on esterase and peroxidase isozyme and three groups based on RAPD analysis. Also, the principal coordinate analysis separated the 18 inbred lines for three groups (esterase and peroxidase analyses) and two groups (RAPD analysis) and the separation was according to the imported location more than the late wilt disease resistance. On the other hand, 45 out of 2191 amplified bands were found to be useful as unique markers. All primers produced genotype specific markers, except OPB-11. Also, L-11 maize inbred line scored the highest number of genotype-specific markers (14 unique markers) and these markers may help breeders for selection of late wilt resistant maize genotypes.