Indian Journal of Plant Genetic Resources
Year : 1989, Volume : 2, Issue : 1
First page : ( 12) Last page : ( 17)
Print ISSN : 0971-8184.

North-Western Himalaya–A Centre of Maize Diversity

Chandel K. P. S., Bhat K. V.

National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi.

Abstract

Exploration and germplasm collection programme undertaken recently in the hilly region comprising interior pockets in the districts of Rajauri, Poonch, Udhampur and Doda/Kishtwar and adjoining Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh in the North-Western Himalaya (Pir Panjal and Shiwalik ranges) and also in the foothills of Himachal Pradesh with contiguous Ambala district of Haryana, showed the occurrence of rich landrace diversity in both flint and dent types. The analysis of diversity was made on natural populations comprising distinci types by grouping the collections in four categories based on their regional/agro-ecological adaptation. The mean, range and coefficient of variability estimates were obtained regionwise. The results showed existence of high genetic variability for most of the cobs and seed characters. Genetic variability was evident in attributes such as height (1-5m) and adaptation to varying altitudinal ranges (upto 3000 m elevations). Cob size, shape, number of grain rows/cob and colours exhibited considerable polymorphism and similar variations were observed for grain size, shape and colour. Both, dent and flint types are cultivated and landraces exhibited definite patterns of distribution. Several types possessed small cobs and irregular grain arrangements on the cobs. The shelled cobs also showed remarkable variability in shape, size, thickness and also in cupule shape and size. The maize landraces also showed considerable range for crude protein content as also the total grain yield, lodging, stiffness of straw and including that of rachilla. The study shows that the North Western Himalayas is potential centre of landrace diversity in maize.

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