Genetic Diversity and Construction of Salt-Tolerant Core Germplasm in Maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) Based on Phenotypic Traits and SNP Markers
Yongfeng Song,
Jiahao Wang,
Yingwen Ma,
Jiaxin Wang,
Liangliang Bao,
Dequan Sun,
Hong Lin,
Jinsheng Fan,
Yu Zhou,
Xing Zeng,
Zhenhua Wang,
Lin Zhang,
Chunxiang Li,
Hong Di
Affiliations
Yongfeng Song
Key Laboratory of Germplasm Enhancement, Physiology and Ecology of Food Crops in Cold Region, Engineering Technology Research Center of Maize Germplasm Resources Innovation on Cold Land of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Jiahao Wang
Key Laboratory of Germplasm Enhancement, Physiology and Ecology of Food Crops in Cold Region, Engineering Technology Research Center of Maize Germplasm Resources Innovation on Cold Land of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Yingwen Ma
Key Laboratory of Germplasm Enhancement, Physiology and Ecology of Food Crops in Cold Region, Engineering Technology Research Center of Maize Germplasm Resources Innovation on Cold Land of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Jiaxin Wang
Key Laboratory of Germplasm Enhancement, Physiology and Ecology of Food Crops in Cold Region, Engineering Technology Research Center of Maize Germplasm Resources Innovation on Cold Land of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Liangliang Bao
Key Laboratory of Germplasm Enhancement, Physiology and Ecology of Food Crops in Cold Region, Engineering Technology Research Center of Maize Germplasm Resources Innovation on Cold Land of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Dequan Sun
Institute of Forage and Grassland Sciences Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Science, Harbin 150086, China
Hong Lin
Institute of Forage and Grassland Sciences Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Science, Harbin 150086, China
Jinsheng Fan
Institute of Forage and Grassland Sciences Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Science, Harbin 150086, China
Yu Zhou
Key Laboratory of Germplasm Enhancement, Physiology and Ecology of Food Crops in Cold Region, Engineering Technology Research Center of Maize Germplasm Resources Innovation on Cold Land of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Xing Zeng
Key Laboratory of Germplasm Enhancement, Physiology and Ecology of Food Crops in Cold Region, Engineering Technology Research Center of Maize Germplasm Resources Innovation on Cold Land of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Zhenhua Wang
Key Laboratory of Germplasm Enhancement, Physiology and Ecology of Food Crops in Cold Region, Engineering Technology Research Center of Maize Germplasm Resources Innovation on Cold Land of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Lin Zhang
Key Laboratory of Germplasm Enhancement, Physiology and Ecology of Food Crops in Cold Region, Engineering Technology Research Center of Maize Germplasm Resources Innovation on Cold Land of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Chunxiang Li
Key Laboratory of Germplasm Enhancement, Physiology and Ecology of Food Crops in Cold Region, Engineering Technology Research Center of Maize Germplasm Resources Innovation on Cold Land of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Hong Di
Key Laboratory of Germplasm Enhancement, Physiology and Ecology of Food Crops in Cold Region, Engineering Technology Research Center of Maize Germplasm Resources Innovation on Cold Land of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Maize is an essential staple food, and its genetic diversity plays a central role in breeding programs aimed at developing climate-adapted cultivars. Constructing a representative core germplasm set is necessary for the efficient conservation and utilization of maize genetic resources. In this study, we analyzed 588 cultivated maize accessions using agronomic traits such as plant morphology and yield traits such as ear characteristics and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to assess molecular diversity and population structure and to construct a core collection. Nineteen phenotypic traits were evaluated, revealing high genetic diversity and significant correlations among most quantitative traits. The optimal sampling strategy was identified as “Mahalanobis distance + 20% + deviation sampling + flexible method.” Whole-genome genotyping was conducted using the Maize6H-60K liquid phase chip. Population structure analysis, principal component analysis, and cluster analysis divided the 588 accessions into six subgroups. A core collection of 172 accessions was selected based on both phenotypic and genotypic data. These were further evaluated for salt–alkali tolerance during germination, and cluster analysis classified them into five groups. Sixty-five accessions demonstrated salt–alkali tolerance, including 18 with high resistance. This core collection serves as a valuable foundation for germplasm conservation and utilization strategies.
