GENETIC DIVERSITY OF MAIZE INBRED LINES BASED ON MORPHOLOGICAL TRAITS AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH HETEROSIS

In any breeding program, the creation of high-yielding maize hybrids with best possible heterosis expression depends on genetic diversity parental inbred lines. This study aimed to quantify eight lines using morphological features and determine relationship between in grain yield per hectare distance matrices variables. The principal component analysis (PCA) determined among based 22 assessed their diallel crossings a two-year field experiment utilizing randomized complete block design three replications. dissimilarity Euclidean coefficients ranged from 0.08 (between L21 L28) 0.69 IL80), an average 0.38. results revealed that values traits showed low, positive, non-significant mid-parent heterosis, better-parent mean ha-1. To fully comprehend lines, extensive vast collection various populations variety is necessary.