Molecular characterisation of Maize [Zea mays (L.)] germplasm accessions

Genetic distances within crop species are measures of average genetic divergence between populations and it provides an index for parental selection. This study was undertaken to identify diverse inbreds from a group of 38 maize inbreds using 27 Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers. The data obtained was subjected to genetic diversity analysis by Sequential Agglomerative Hierarchical Non-overlapping (SAHN) clustering using Dice's coefficient and Unweighted Paired Group Method with Arithmetic Average (UPGMA). Genotypes were broadly classified into seven clusters. Similarity coefficient at molecular level was highest between UMI-852 and UMI-752. Based on the study, 11 inbreds were selected for use in heterosis breeding.