Joshi, ArunabhSharma, R. S.2017-05-162017-05-162014Sharma and Joshi, 2014http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810011230Assessment of Morphological, Biochemical and Molecular Diversity in Zea mays L.The present investigation was carried out with 20 diverse genotypes of Maize (Zea mays L.) comprising hybrids, composites and land races for the assessment of genetic diversity through morphological, biochemical (Isozyme) and molecular (RAPD and ISSR) markers. The crop was raised during kharif, 2011 in randomized block design with three replications at Instructional Farm of Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, India. Observations were recorded for all 11 characters including grain protein content. Data so obtained were subjected to analysis of variance, genotypic variability parameters, correlation, path coefficient analysis and genetic divergence analysis. For biochemical characterization enzymes were extracted from young leaves (28 DAS) to develop zymograms. Similarly for molecular analysis, DNA was isolated in seedling stage (21-25 DAS) and used as a template for PCR amplification using 16 RAPD and 10 ISSR primers. Analysis of variance revealed significant genetic variability among the genotypes for all the 11 characters including grain protein content. Test weight, grain yield per plant, grains per cob, grains per row and harvest index revealed high genetic gain along with high estimate of heritability and GCV indicating that selection could be practiced for improvement. Correlation coefficient revealed close association at genotypic and phenotypic level. Grain yield per plant was strongly correlated with days of 50% flowering, days of maturity, cob length, grains per cob, cob girth, grains per row and harvest index. Path coefficient analysis indicated that harvest index, biological yield and grains per row exhibited significant direct effect on seed yield in maize.ennullThesis