Establishment and confirmation of heterotic groups and genetic diversity assessment of maize inbred lines using microsatellite data

Twenty-seven maize inbreds (12 commercial and 15 developing lines) from Maize Research Institute breeding program were subjected to microsatelite analysis. The aim was genetic diversity determination, establishing relationships among tested lines and assigning them to heterotic groups according to molecular marker data. Number of alelles detected was 97, with an average of 3.23. Major allele frequency was in a range from 0.33 to 0.82 (average 0.55). The highest value for observed heterozygosity was 10% for several developing lines. Mean values for gene diversity and PIC were 0.56 and 0.48, respectively. Frequency-based distances were calculated using Roger's coefficient and average value of 0.57 indicates high genetic diversity in analyzed maize inbreds. Distance matrices were subjected to cluster analysis and PCA. Multivariate analysis methods showed considerable concurrency with pedigree data. Results of analysis with 30 microsatellite markers could be useful for defining/redefining heterotic groups but should be complemented with field testing data