Characterisation and evaluation towards selection of maize landraces with the best per se performances

The narrow genetic base of commercial maize varieties emphasise the necessity for conservation, characterisation and utilisation of germplasm stored within gene banks. Broad genetic variability preserved in the Maize Research Institute Zemun Polje (MRIZP) gene bank, which includes accessions which originated from the Western Balkan, as a part of European corn-belt, is an exceptional source of desirable traits for enriching breeders' working collections for maize breeding under temperate conditions. Preliminary screening for abiotic stress tolerance, which marked 321 maize landraces, served as the first step in stratification process of selecting a smaller number of accessions from the entire gene bank local collection. After classification of these landraces into eleven homogenous groups, the objective of this study was to continue the stratification process of selection (as a second step), based on evaluation of agro-morphological traits of interest for breeding. The conducted evaluation highlighted 40 landraces with the best per se performances, important for breeding. Out of them, 28 early-maturing flint landraces with stiff stalks, low positioned ears, high yield potential and good general ear assessment could be considered as valuable source for their introgression into elite flint germplasm pool