Shanjun Zhu , Wei Wang

Institute of Life Sciences, Jiyang College of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
Maize Genomics and Genetics, 2025, Vol. 16, No. 1   
Received: 30 Dec., 2024    Accepted: 10 Feb., 2025    Published: 25 Feb., 2025

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

This study comprehensively explored the phenotypic and genotypic diversity of fresh-table maize germplasm, highlighting the importance of this diversity for breeding programs. Phenotypic assessments, such as principal component analysis (PCA) and GT biplot analysis, revealed significant variation in key traits such as grain weight, plant height, and nitrogen use efficiency, which are essential for improving yield in different environments. Meanwhile, molecular characterization using SNP markers further elucidated the genetic diversity in maize breeding germplasm and found clear distinctions between temperate and tropical/subtropical lines, as well as unique alleles that can be used for breeding. This study also introduces the latest advances in combining genotypic and phenotypic data to help identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) to improve breeding efficiency. Despite some progress, there is still underutilized genetic diversity in current breeding programs. This study emphasizes that continued research in phenotypic and genotypic characterization, combined with advanced breeding technologies, is essential for sustainable improvement of the global maize crop.

Fresh-eating maize; Phenotypic diversity; Genotypic diversity; Hybrid breeding; Genomic selection