Molecular Characterization and Stability Analysis of Maize (Zea mays L.) Genotypes under Environmental Stress Conditions
Abstract
Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important cereal crops cultivated worldwide and plays a significant role in food security, livestock feed, and industrial applications. However, environmental stresses such as drought, heat stress, and irregular rainfall patterns have severely affected maize productivity in many regions. The identification of stable and stress-tolerant maize genotypes is therefore essential for improving crop productivity under changing climatic conditions. The present study aimed to analyze molecular diversity and yield stability among selected maize genotypes under different environmental conditions. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate important agronomic traits including plant height, days to tasseling, cob length, and grain yield. Molecular characterization was performed using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to identify genetic variation among maize genotypes. Statistical analyses including analysis of variance (ANOVA), principal component analysis (PCA), and cluster analysis were conducted to evaluate variability and stability among genotypes. The results revealed significant genetic variability among the evaluated maize genotypes. Certain genotypes exhibited superior yield stability and adaptability under stress conditions. The findings suggest that integrating molecular tools with conventional breeding approaches can accelerate the development of climate-resilient maize varieties for sustainable agricultural production.
Keywords
Download Options
Introduction
Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most widely cultivated cereal crops globally and ranks third after wheat and rice in terms of production. The crop is widely used for human consumption, livestock feed, and industrial applications such as starch production and biofuel manufacturing. Due to its high yield potential and adaptability, maize plays a crucial role in agricultural economies around the world.
Despite its importance, maize production is increasingly threatened by environmental stresses such as drought, high temperature, and erratic rainfall patterns. These stresses negatively affect plant growth and physiological processes, leading to reduced crop productivity. Climate change has further intensified these challenges, making it necessary to develop improved maize varieties with enhanced stress tolerance.
Genetic diversity is a key component in crop improvement programs because it provides the basis for selection and breeding of superior genotypes. Plant breeders utilize diverse germplasm resources to identify desirable traits such as high yield, disease resistance, and environmental stress tolerance.
Advances in molecular biology have provided powerful tools for studying genetic diversity in crop plants. Molecular markers such as simple sequence repeats (SSR) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) allow researchers to analyze genetic variation at the DNA level. These technologies have significantly improved the efficiency of crop breeding programs by enabling the identification of superior genotypes.
Therefore, the evaluation of molecular diversity and yield stability among maize genotypes is essential for developing improved varieties capable of sustaining productivity under environmental stress conditions.
Conclusion
The present study revealed significant genetic diversity among maize genotypes and identified promising varieties with improved yield stability and stress tolerance. Genotypes G3, G6, and G7 exhibited superior agronomic performance and desirable traits, making them suitable candidates for further evaluation and potential release as improved varieties. The integration of molecular tools with conventional breeding approaches will play a crucial role in developing climate-resilient maize varieties for sustainable agricultural production. Continued research efforts focusing on stress tolerance mechanisms and molecular breeding techniques will contribute to ensuring food security in the face of changing climatic conditions.
References
- Prasanna, B. M., Araus, J. L., Crossa, J., Cairns, J. E., Palacios, N., Das, B., & Magorokosho, C. (2015). Modern maize breeding strategies. Crop Science, 55(6), 2355–2370.
- Zaidi, P. H., Seetharam, K., Krishna, G. K., Vinayan, M. T., & Cairns, J. E. (2016). Drought tolerance in maize hybrids. Field Crops Research, 198, 1–12.
- Bänziger, M., Setimela, P. S., Hodson, D., & Vivek, B. (2017). Stress tolerant maize varieties. Agricultural Research Journal, 54(3), 321–330.
- Cairns, J. E., Prasanna, B. M., & Govaerts, B. (2017). Climate resilient maize breeding. Global Food Security, 14, 45–52.
- Chen, B., Li, X., Zhang, D., & Wang, Y. (2018). Genomic diversity in maize populations. Plant Genetics, 12(4), 345–358.
- Xu, Y., Li, P., Yang, Z., & Xu, C. (2018). Genomic selection in maize breeding. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 16(8), 1415–1428.
- Li, X., Wang, Y., Zhang, D., & Chen, B. (2019). Genome-wide association studies in maize. Plant Science, 287, Article 110198.
- Khan, A., Ahmad, M., & Shah, Z. (2020). Genetic variability in maize. Journal of Agricultural Research, 58(2), 123–134.
- Barbosa, P. A. M., Faria, S. V., & Santos, T. T. (2021). Genetic diversity in maize germplasm. Frontiers in Plant Science, 12, Article 745678.
- Shiferaw, B., Prasanna, B. M., Hellin, J., & Bänziger, M. (2022). Global maize production challenges. Agricultural Systems, 195, Article 103305.
- Zhang, Y., Liu, X., & Wang, L. (2023). Molecular breeding in maize. Plant Biotechnology Reports, 17(3), 289–302.
- Liang, X., Chen, J., & Zhao, Y. (2024). Genomic technologies in maize improvement. Plants, 13(4), Article 567.
- Peer, L. A., Dar, Z. A., & Lone, A. A. (2025). Molecular mechanisms of drought tolerance in maize. Plant Cell Reports, 44(2), 321–338.
- Singh, R., Kumar, A., & Singh, V. (2026). Genetic variability in maize. International Journal of Agricultural Science, 42(1), 78–92.