Genetic divergence studies of fodder yield and quality attributing characteristics in promising maize (Zea mays L.) composites

Abstract

The objective of the current study was to assess the extent of genetic variation among twenty-seven maizevarieties using morpho-agronomic data based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and to measure thegenetic distance among these genotypes using hierarchical cluster analysis. Twenty-seven composites weregrown in a randomised complete block design with three replications for two years. The experimental materialwas assessed for 15 morpho-agronomic traits. Green fodder yield depends on various other traits such asplant height, number of leaves, leaf length and fodder quality traits such as crude protein, acid detergent fibreand neutral detergent fibre. This study showed a positive correlation of green fodder yield with various suchtraits. A very high positive correlation was noticed between number of leaves and ear height (0.723) andbetween crude protein and in vitro dry matter digestibility (0.823). However, crude protein showed a significantnegative correlation with acid detergent fibre (-0.739) and neutral detergent fibre (-0.678). Five principalcomponents had more than one eigen value, contributing 75% variability among genotypes. PC contributes 125.1% followed by PC with 19.9%, PC with 12.5%, PC with 9.7% and PC with 7.8%. The scree plot revealed 2 3 4 5that the experimental material could be divided into five clusters. The genotypes under cluster five could beused to improve green fodder yield. The minimum intra-cluster distance observed for cluster 1 was 48.008, andthe maximum inter-cluster distance observed between clusters 2 and 5 was 259.45. The different groupsobtained could be useful for deriving the inbred lines with diverse features, which could be used in variousmaize breeding programmes.