Genetic divergence in maize regarding grain yield and tassel traits

Abstract

Maize tassels with a longer length and higher number of branches prevent the passage of solar radiation into the upper plant canopy and act as a drain for photoassimilates that could be used for grain production. This study aimed to verify if there is genetic divergence regarding grain yield and tassel traits among maize cultivars in three agricultural years. Twenty maize cultivars were evaluated and 11 tassel traits and grain yield were measured. Individual and joint analyses of variance were performed for each trait. Principal component analysis was performed, the generalized Mahalanobis distance matrix between cultivars was determined, and the genetic divergence analysis was performed, using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA), which allowed constructing the dendrogram. The cophenetic correlation coeffi cient was calculated to validate the cluster. There is genetic divergence among maize cultivars and six groups of cultivars were formed. Tassel length, total branches number, central spike dry matter, and grain yield are the traits that most contribute to the genetic divergence among maize cultivars.