Crop genetic resources rich in Fe and Zn provide sustainable and cost-effective solution to alleviate micronutrient malnutrition. Maize being the leading staple crop assumes great significance as a target crop for biofortification. We report here wide genetic variation for kernel Fe and Zn among 20 diverse maize inbreds lines, majority of which were bred for quality protein maize (QPM) and provitamin-A. Kernel Fe ranged from 30.0 - 46.13 mg/kg, while kernel Zn ranged from 8.68-39.56 mg/kg. Moderate but positive correlation was observed between the micronutrients. Characterization using 25 Single sequence repeats (SSRs) linked to QTLs for kernel Fe produced 58 alleles. Similarly, 86 alleles were identified from 35 SSRs linked to QTLs for kernel Zn. One unique allele for kernel Fe and three unique alleles for kernel Zn were identified. The mean polymorphic information content (PIC) was 0.40 for both kernel Fe and Zn. Jaccard’s dissimilarity coefficients varied from 0.25 - 0.91 with a mean of 0.58 for kernel-Fe while 0.27- 0.88 with a mean of 0.57 for kernel Zn. Principal coordinate analysis depicted diversity of inbreds. Cluster analysis grouped the inbreds into three major clusters for both kernel Fe and Zn. Potential cross combinations have been proposed to develop micronutrient rich hybrids and novel inbreds with higher Fe and Zn. The information generated here would help the maize biofortification programme to develop nutritionally enriched hybrids.

中文翻译：

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使用与籽粒铁和锌的QTL相关的微卫星标记鉴定玉米基因型

富含铁和锌的作物遗传资源为减轻微量营养素营养不良提供了可持续且具有成本效益的解决方案。玉米作为主要的主食作物，作为生物强化的目标作物具有重要的意义。我们在这里报告了20种不同玉米自交系中籽粒铁和锌的广泛遗传变异，其中大多数是为优质蛋白质玉米（QPM）和原维生素A进行育种的。铁仁的范围为30.0-46.13 mg / kg，而锌仁的范围为8.68-39.56 mg / kg。微量营养素之间存在中等但正相关。使用25个单链重复序列（SSR）链接到内核Fe的QTL进行表征产生了58个等位基因。同样，从35个SSR中鉴定出86个等位基因，这些SSR与Zn的QTL相关。鉴定出一个针对籽粒铁的独特等位基因和三个针对籽粒锌的独特等位基因。铁粒和锌粒的平均多态信息含量（PIC）均为0.40。Jaccard的相异性系数在0.25-0.91之间变化，仁-Fe平均值为0.58，而0.27-0.88则对仁Zn平均值为0.57。主坐标分析描述了近交系的多样性。聚类分析将近交种的籽粒铁和锌分为三个主要的聚类。已提出潜在的交叉组合以开发富含微量元素的杂种和具有较高铁和锌的新近交种。此处生成的信息将有助于玉米生物强化计划发展营养丰富的杂种。主坐标分析描述了近交系的多样性。聚类分析将近交种的籽粒铁和锌分为三个主要的聚类。已提出潜在的交叉组合以开发富含微量元素的杂种和具有较高铁和锌的新近交种。此处生成的信息将有助于玉米生物强化计划发展营养丰富的杂种。主坐标分析描述了近交系的多样性。聚类分析将近交种的籽粒铁和锌分为三个主要的聚类。已提出潜在的交叉组合以开发富含微量元素的杂种和具有较高铁和锌的新近交种。此处生成的信息将有助于玉米生物强化计划发展营养丰富的杂种。