Genetic diversity of new maize hybrids based on SSR markers as compared with other molecular and biochemical markers

Abstract

Genetic diversity of four new yellow single crosses, five new yellow three-way crosses, and five yellow inbred lines of maize (Zea mays L.) was studied using different molecular (SSR, ISSR, and RAPD) and biochemical markers (seed storage protein content). All markers were able to clearly separate the inbred lines in one cluster from the different types of hybrids. The correlation among the different types of molecular markers was moderately high according to the Mantel’s test (e.g. 0.67 between SSR and ISSR, 0.42 between SSR and RAPD, and 0.65 between ISSR and RAPD), indicating that the three techniques are efficient for evaluating genetic diversity in the maize genotypes. The correlation of biochemical markers (seed storage protein SDS-PAGE) with SSR, ISSR, and RAPD markers was 0.61, 0.74, and 0.48, respectively. It can be concluded that both molecular and biochemical markers are efficient to study the genetic diversity in maize. Among the different types of molecular markers, SSR is a more accurate marker-type because of its co-dominance and stability of results. It can also be said that biochemical and molecular markers are positively correlated and the correlation ranged between moderate to high. This could suggest using both marker types, separately or together, for genetic diversity studies in maize.