Genetic Diversity Detected Among 45 Guangxi Local Maize Germplasm And 15 Canadian Maize Populations

The narrower genetic background is the first constraint factor restricting maize (Zea mays L.) breeding efforts in China. The strategy to meet this challenge is to enhance and improve the domestic and/or exotic germplasm especially Guangxi local OPVs, which contain resistence to biotic and abiotic stresses, such as drought and hot tolerance, and diseases resistence. Germplasm improvement has been restricted for most of the new lines were recycled from commercial hybrids, and the research activities on OPVs with broader genetic background have been being ignored for decades in Guangxi. The genetic diversity among 45 Guangxi local maize varieties (OPVs) and 15 improved Canadian maize populations, was detected with bulk-DNA samples based on 70 pairs of SSR primers. The total 240 DNA samples were extracted from 4 bulks of DNA for each population or OPV, and fresh and yong leaf samples of 10 random individual plants were mixed equally for each bulk. The main results are summarized as follows:(1)A total of 245 alleles was detected with 70 pairs of selected primers among the DNA samples extracted from 60 OPVs or populations. The number of alleles per locus was on average 3.5 and ranged 2-6.(2) Clustering results with UPGMA method based on the genetic similarities of 60 populations showed that 45 Guangxi local OPVs and 15...