Enhancement of Maize Allelic Diversity using Wild Relative Teosinte (Zea mays ssp. Parviglumis)

Teosinte (Zea mays ssp. Parviglumis), a wild relative of maize was assumed to be a potential donor for novel gene(s) for diversification and enhancement of maize germplasm. Subsequently teosinte was crossed with three maize inbred lines Tarun 83, DMRHyd 1284 and Pant 12K 53 followed by one generation of back crossing and two generation of selfing. The teosinte derived BC₁F₃ lines from all the three crosses were evaluated during spring season 2016. Analysis of variance revealed significant variance for most of the characters in all the three teosinte derived maize lines. Variability parameters revealed low variations for maturity traits namely days to 50% anthesis and silk emergence, days to 50% leaf senescence and anthesis-silking interval. Plant height exhibited wide range of variation and in general plant height of teosinte derived lines was more than the plant height of maize lines. Grain yield/plot was the most responsive trait because of the maximum variance observed in teosinte derived lines. Other traits exhibiting fairly high diversification in teosinte derived lines were cobs/plot followed by tassel branches and flag leaf length. The results, therefore, indicate that teosinte can be used effectively for domestication of wild alleles and diversification of maize germplasm. In the present investigation, only few morphological traits were analysed, however, teosinte can also be used for diversification of abiotic and biotic stress tolerance.