The genetic variation of the backcross modified lines developed from the maize line 08-641 selected by different directions

Abstract

In this study, two donaors CN962 and 8065 were used to improve the resistance to northern leaf blight of the recurrent parent inbred line 08-641 (R08). A total of 79 lines (BC2F4) were developed by a bidirectional selection based on the similarity and dissimilarity in the shape and color of seeds to R08.The genetic variation of these lines were analyzed by 44 pairs of SSR molecular markers, the result showed that a total of 272 alleles were detected in the improved lines and R08, 123 out of them were detected in the modified lines but discarded in R08. The modified line selected based on dissimialry in the shape and corlor of seeds to R08 have lower genetic similary between R08 than that between the lines selected based on similary in the shape and color of seeds and R08, and the genetic variation of these lines were wider. It concluded that when the backcross breeding were used to improve the maize inbred lines, multidirectional selection based on phenotypic value were contribute to create and keep genetic variation.