Exploring agro-morphological and nutritional diversity in maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines under temperate conditions

Original Research Article
Sasane Prasad1 Wagh Pankaj1 Z.A Dar2 M.A Wani2 P.A Sofi1 F.J Wani3 A.H Mir4 Pradeep Kumar5 K.Hussain2 Mahrukh6
1 Division of Genetics and Plant Breeding, SKUAST-Kashmir, FoA, Wadura, India-193201
2 Dry Land Agriculture Research Station, SKUAST-Kashmir, Budgam, India-191132
3 Division of Agricultural Economics and Statistics, SKUAST-Kashmir, FoH, Shalimar, India-190025
4 Research Centre for Residue and Quality Analysis, FoH, Shalimar, India-190025
5 ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, Ludhiana, India-141004
6 School of Agriculture Science & Technology (SAST), UoL, Kargil, India- 194103
https://doi.org/10.21276/AATCCReview.2025.13.04.965

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a versatile cereal crop of global significance, widely cultivated for food, feed, and industrial purposes due to its broad adaptability and genetic diversity. Hidden hunger, caused by inadequate intake of essential nutrients, affects nearly one-third of the global population, primarily due to deficiencies in minerals such as iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn).While current varieties support food production under variable environments, future demands necessitate the development and adoption of more resilient and improved cultivars. However, simultaneous improvement of grain yield and micronutrient concentration remains challenging due to their complex inheritance and strong environmental influence. The present study aimed to evaluate 48 maize inbred lines for agro-morphological and micronutrient traits, including grain Fe and Zn content, using five standard checks (CML-451, DML-1084, IML-418-1, PV-1, and IML-187). The field experiment was conducted during Kharif 2023-24 at the Division of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Wadura, SKUAST-K, following an Augmented Block Design, while laboratory analyses were carried out under a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Significant genetic variability was observed among the inbreds for all traits. High PCV, GCV, heritability, and genetic advance as were recorded for anthesis-silking interval, plant height, cob placement, yield per plant, and kernel Fe and Zn concentrations. Correlation studies revealed positive associations of yield per plant with shelling percentage, seed weight, cob traits, and plant height. PCA grouped the variability into five principal components explaining 79.86% of total variation, while cluster analysis categorized the inbreds into two major groups. Cluster I combined early maturity with superior yield potential. Genotypes KDM-519, KDM-530, KDM-502, and KDM-529 showed high yield with medium maturity, whereas KDM-560 and KDM-504 exhibited superior Fe and Zn enrichment, making them promising candidates for biofortification in maize breeding programs.

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