Associations among inbred lines of maize using electrophoretic, chromatographic, and pedigree data : 1. Multivariate and cluster analysis of data from 'Lancaster Sure Crop' derived lines.

Associations among 18 'Lancaster Sure Crop' derived inbred lines of maize (Zea mays L.) were determined using multivariate and cluster analysis. Objectives were to assess the degree of unique characterization among lines afforded by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and starch gel electrophoresis of allozymes and to compare associations among lines revealed by biochemical and pedigree data. RP-HPLC revealed 11 different chromatograms that uniquely identified 79% of lines that differed by more than isogenic or near isogenic segments. Allozymic data for 21 loci provided unique discrimination among 93% of non-isogenic lines. Chromatographic and allozymic data together provided unique characterization of all non-isogenic lines. Cluster and multivariate analyses of biochemical data associated lines into three groups that would have been expected on the basis of pedigree breeding records. More detailed associations were dependent upon the data set employed. Multivariate and cluster analysis of chromatographic, electrophoretic, and pedigree data could be useful in revealing more detailed associations among elite germplasm than hitherto available, thus providing data pertinent to line and hybrid development, plant variety protection, and germplasm security.