Genetic diversity in elite inbred lines of maize and its association with heterosis.

The objective of the current study was to apply molecular markers (microsatellites) in the analysis of genetic diversity of 48 lines of the elite maize germplasm stored in the bank of the Cooperativa Central de Pesquisa Agrícola - Coodetec, PR, Brazil, and estimate the correlation between genetic distance and heterosis and hybrid performance from the crosses among these maize lines. Forty-four random primers were used and amplification of 124 polymorphic fragments was obtained. The expected findings from the correlation of the yield and heterosis with the genetic distance were non-significant. However, the results suggested that data from the extreme distances could be used in breeding for more productive crosses and heterotic hybrids. Thereby, molecular markers are efficient tools for predicting hybrid performance.