Morpho-molecular and biochemical characterization of maize genotypes: Association of biochemical traits with agronomic traits of different zea mays L. lines grown under rain fed conditions

The present investigation was carried out on different maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes. Data on morphological and biochemical traits subjected to statistical analysis to find out the association of increasing protein and oil content with important agronomic traits. Results indicate that, protein and oil contents of maize are positively correlated with yield and can be increased or decreased and selected for without adversely affecting important agronomic traits studied. Highly significant results of variance and covariance were observed for all the morphological traits studied which revealed significant variation among these genotypes.In order to confirm the genetic variability from the source population maize genotypes were selected and analyzed for total seed protein profile using sodium dodecylsulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). A considerable variation in protein banding was observed among all the genotypes studied. The variability can be utilized to develop commercial maize varieties utilizing the conventional techniques of selection and hybridization for economic pull in and improvement of present varieties to obtain desirable results.