Zn kernel content-based biodiversity analysis studies for biofortification in indigenous maize (ZEA MAYS L.) germplasm | [Pakistan Journal of Botany • 2025]

Author(s):

1. MUHAMMAD SHERAZ: Fodder and Forage Research Program, Crop Sciences Institute,NARC Islamabad,Pakistan

2. JAWERIA IQBAL: Depaertment of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Bahauddin Zakariya University,Multan,Pakistan

3. DANISH IBRAR: Crop Sciences Institute,NARC Islamabad,Pakistan

4. MUHAMMAD KASHIF: Fodder and Forage Research Program, Crop Sciences Institute,NARC Islamabad,Pakistan

5. MUHAMMAD AZEEM ASLAM: Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives,Islamabad,Pakistan

6. JAVED IQBAL: Cotton Research Institute,Multan,Pakistan

7. MUHAMMAD SHAHNAWAZ: Depaertment of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Bahauddin Zakariya University,Multan,Pakistan

8. ALI ANWAAR: Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture Faisalabad,,

Abstract:

Zn is an essential trace mineral for all forms of life due to its essential role in expression of genes, development of cells and replication. The World Health Organization recommends a daily intake of 6.7 to 15 mg of zinc for humans. Diversity determination among the inbred lines is essential for the heterosis breeding. Genetic biofortification of staple crops like maize presents a sustainable strategy to address malnutrition. The present study was conducted to estimate genetic diversity for Zn content in 50 inbred lines and evaluate their performance by using the correlation and principal component analysis in randomized complete block design with three replications. Zinc content in the grains was quantified by using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry technique and six inbred lines 468 Zai, 738 MMRI 32, 749 4B-9, 739 4B-3, 737-339 and 476 Zai was found with higher Zn concentrations. A positive correlation was observed between zinc content and most of the observed traits, except for plant height (PH) and kernel yield (KY), which exhibited a negative association. PCA study revealed that the first three principal components had eigenvalue more than one indicated broad genetic base and accounted for 65.3% of the total variation. The identification of high-level genetic diversity could be used for maize improvement and inbred lines with higher zinc contents are valuable for breeders aiming to develop biofortified maize.

Page(s): 2069-2074

DOI: 10.30848/PJB2025-6(17

Published: Journal: Pakistan Journal of Botany, Volume: 57, Issue: 6, Year: 2025

Keywords:

correlation , genetic variability , maize , biplot , Principal component analysis , Biofortification , Zn

References:

[1] Rahman H.Z.,Shah Z.,Shah S.M.A.,Iqbal M.,Khalil I.H. .2012 .Evaluation of maize S2 lines in test crosses combinations II: yield and yield components. Pak. J. Bot., 44 : 187-192.

[2] Schoofs H.,Schmit J.,Rink L. .2024 .Zinc toxicity: understanding the limits. Molecules, 29(13) : 3130.

[3] Prasad A.S. .2012 .Discovery of human zinc deficiency: 50 years later. J. Trace Elements Med, 04 : 66-69.

[4] Prasad A.S. .2006 .Discovery of human zinc deficiency: its impact on human health and disease. Adv. Nutr, 4(2) : 176-190.

[5] Ogunniyan D.J. and S.A.,Olakojo D.J. and S.A. .2014 .Genetic variation, heritability, genetic advance, and agronomic character association of yellow elite inbred lines of maize (Zea mays L.). Nige. J. Genet, 28(2) : 24-28.

[6] Nuss S.A.,Tanumihardjo S.A. .2010 .Maize: a paramount staple crop in the context of global nutrition. Compr. Rev. Food Sci. Food, 9(4) : 417-436.

[7] Mijangos-Cortes J.O.,T. D.,Espinosa-Victoria A.,Muñoz-Orozco J.,Romero-Peñaloza A.,SantacruzVarela A. .2007 .Differentiation among maize (Zea mays L.) landraces from the Tarasca Mountain Chain, Michoacan, Mexico and the Chalqueño complex. Genet Resour Crop Evol, 54 : 309-325.

[8] Maxfeld S.,Shukla J.S.,Crane J.S. .2023 .StatPearls Publishing. , : .

[9] Oikeh S.O.,Menkir A.,Maziya-Dixon B.,Welch R.,Glahn R.P. .2003 .Assessment of concentrations of iron and zinc and bioavailable iron in grains of early-maturing tropical maize varieties. J. Agric. Food Chem, 51 : 3688-3694.

[10] Menkir A. .2008 .Genetic variation for grain mineral content in tropical-adapted maize inbred lines. Food Chem, 110(2) : 454-464.

[11] Mabberley D.J. .2008 .Mabberley's Plant-Book: A portable dictionary of plants, their classifications, and uses. , : .

[12] Langyan S.,Bhardwaj R.,Kumari J.,Jacob S.R.,Bisht I.S.,Pandravada S.R.,Singh A.,Singh P.B.,Dar Z.A.,Kumar A.,Rana J.C. .2022 .Nutritional diversity in native germplasm of maize collected from three different fragile ecosystems of India. , 812599 : 812599.

[13] Keerthana D.,Haritha T.,Kumar I.S.,Ramesh D. .2022 .Character association studies for kernel yield and its attributing traits in maize. Int. J. Environ. Climate Chang, 12(11) : 3330-3339.

[14] Jaric J.K.,Prodanovic S.,Iwarsson M.,Minina A. .2010 .Diversity of maize (Zea mays L.) landraces in Eastern Serbia: morphological and storage protein characterization. Maydica, 55 : 231-238.

[15] Iqbal J.,Shinwari Z.K.,Rabbani M.A. .2015 .Maize (Zea mays L.) germplasm agro-morphological characterization based on descriptive, cluster and principal component analysis. Pak. J. Bot., 47 : 255-264.

[16] Hu M.,Tian H.,Yang K.,Ding S.,Hao Y.,Xu R.,Zhang F.,Zhang D. .2024 .Comprehensive Evaluation and Selection of 192 Maize Accessions from Different Sources. , 13(10) : 1397.

[17] .2022 .Ministry of Finance, Economic Advisor's Wing, Islamabad. Government of Pakistan, : 23.

[18] Enserink M. .2008 .Tough lessons from golden rice. Science, 320(5875) : 468-471.

[19] Cömertpay G.,Baloch F.S.,Erdem H. .2016 .Genetic variation for biofortifying the maize grain. J. Agri.-Food Sci. Tech, 4(8) : 753-691.

[20] Boonchuay P.,Rerkasem B.,Prom-U-Thai C. .2013 .Effect of different foliar zinc application at different growth stages on seed zinc concentration and its impact on seedling vigor in rice. J. Soil Sci. Plant, 59(2) : 180-188.

[21] Black R.E.,Allen L.H.,Bhutta Z.A.,Caulfield L.E.,Ezzati M.,Mathers C.,Rivera J. .2008 .Maternal and child undernutrition: global and regional exposures and health consequences. The Lancet, 371(9608) : 243-260.

[22] Belalia N.,Lupini A.,Djemel A.,Morsli A.,Mauceri A.,Lotti C.,Slaoui M.K.,Khelifi L.,Sunseri F. .2019 .Analysis of genetic diversity and population structure in Saharan maize (Zea mays L.) populations using phenotypic traits and SSR markers. Genet, 66 : 243-257.

[23] Aslam S.H.,Khan A.,Beshir M.,Hussain M.A.,Aslam M.A. .2024 .Genetic divergence and extent of association among indicators linked to zinc contents and yield in tropical maize. SABRAO J. Breed. Genet, 56(3) : 1001-1011.

[24] Anonymous .1990 .Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC). Official Methods of Analysis (15th ed.), : .

[25] Al-Naggar A.M.M.,Soliman A.M .,Hussien M.H.,Mohamed A.M.H. .2022 .Genetic diversity of maize inbred lines based on morphological traits and its association with heterosis. SABRAO J. Breed. Genet, 54(3) : 589-597.

[26] Ali F.,Kanwal N.,Ahsan M.,Ali Q.,Niazi I. Bibi and N.K. .2015 .Multivariate analysis of grain yield and its attributing traits in different maize hybrids grown under heat and drought stress. Scientifica, : 563-869.

[27] Shukla A.K.,Tiwari P.K.,Pakhare A.,Prakash C. .2016 .Zinc and iron in soil, plant, animal, and human health. Indian J. Ferti., 12 : 133-149.

[28] Steel R.G.D.,Torrie J.H.,Dicky D.A.,McGraw Hill D.A. .1997 .Principles and Procedures of Statistics, A Biometrical Approach. 3rd Edition, : 352-358.

[29] Stiles L.I.,Ferrao K.,Mehta K.J. .2024 .Role of zinc in health and disease. Clin. Exp. Med, 24(1) : 38.

[30] Sultana R. .2019 .Molecular and morphological characterization of maize genotypes for opaque 2 gene and yield-contributing traits. Zibeline International Publishing, 1(1) : 3-10.

[31] Tahir M.,Fiaz N.,Nadeem M.,Khalid F.,Ali M. .2009 .Effect of different chelated zinc sources on the growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.). Soil Environ, 28 : 179-183.

[32] Takkar P.N.,Shukla A.K.,Agriculture-Soil NAAS .2015 .Management of soil fertility: Micronutrients. , : 121-152.

[33] Tripathy S.K.,Behera S.K.,Sahu D. .2020 .Phenotyping and association analysis of grain zinc content with agromorphological traits in a core rice germplasm. Int. J. Chem, 8(2) : 685-691.

[34] Zarcinas B.,Cartwright B.,Spouncer L. .1987 .Nitric acid digestion and multi-element analysis of plant material by inductively coupled plasma spectrometry. Comm. Soil Sci. Pl, 18 : 131-146.

Citations

Downloads

Views