Variation among Inbred Lines of Maize for Leaf Surface Wax Composition

Abstract

Arising from an interest in the degree to which leaf surface wax could be used as a marker for the identification of genetic lines and cultivars of maize (Zea mays L.), this study explored wax variability among five inbred lines (A619, B73, OH43, VA26, and W23) as revealed by gas chromatography. Individual leaves of the five inbred lines were excised from plants harvested at or near anthesis. The surface wax was extracted by a chloroform dip, samples were dried in vacuo and stored at −5°C until analysis. The composition of leaf surface wax varied among the inbreds. The chromatographic patterns of A619 and OH43 were indistinguishable from each other, while the waxes of B73 and W23 differed slightly. The wax of VA26 was the least similar to the waxes of the other inbreds. Different statistical treatments [Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Principal Components Analysis (PCA), and Average Linkage Clustering (ALC)] of the data derived from gas chromatographic analyses were successful in arranging individual leaves into their inbred groups, with the exception of A619 and OH43. The between inbred variation suggested that leaf surface wax composition can be a suitable character for some inbred characterizations if developmental and leaf number‐based differences are taken into account.