Morphological and molecular characterization of maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines for parental selection and hybrid development

Information on genetic diversity and performance of maize inbred lines is invaluable in developing hybrids varieties. The objectives of this study were to (i) assess the per se performance of the newly developed inbred lines under optimal conditions (ii) determine the maturity groups of the inbreds, and (iii) assess genetic diversity among inbreds using Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNPs) markers and morphological traits. One hundred maize inbred lines collected from the Crops Research Institute Maize Improvement Program were evaluated and characterized. The study was conducted at Crops Research Institute (Fumesua and Ejura) between 2023 and 2024. Significant differences (P