Pantnagar Journal of Research

Abstract

Maize is genetically different from its wild species teosinte (Zea mays ssp. parviglumis) for various traits since maize has undergone domestication process over 10,000 years ago in the Balsas river valley of Mexico. But some major traits namely plant architecture have seen domestication syndrome which created significant differences between modern maize and its wild progenitor teosinte. It is assumed that some genes/allelic form for plant architecture, particularly for leaf angle, were probably lost during maize domestication and selective breeding. Several reports claim that teosinte have diverse and novel alleles for plant architecture which were absent in modern maize. Plant architecture determines plants canopy, light harvesting capacity and water and nutrient use efficiency. We investigated BC₁ F₂ population derived from maize×teosinte cross. The population was subjected to phenotypic evaluation for Leaf Angle (LA), Flag Leaf Length (FLL) and Flag Leaf Width (FLW). Investigation indicates wide variability for LA, FLL and FLW in BC_{1 F2 generation. Based on the data and analysis, 305 lines were grouped into different categories based on range of values. Out of 305 BC1 F2 plants, 216 plants showed >450 leaf angle and 89 plants had had <450, and for flag leaf length and width 305 BC1F2 plants showed differential behaviour. The investigation results indicate that teosinte has great significance in broadening and diversification of genetic base of maize germplasm. Further there is enough probability of incorporating erect leaves habit in maize by using teosinte as donor parent that may ultimately help in accommodating more plants per unit area for increasing production and productivity of maize.}