Molecular Characterisation of the Northern Himalaya-adapted Diverse Inbreds for the Accumulation of Kernel Provitamin-a and Vitamin-E in Maize

Malnutrition affects billions of people, leading to challenging socio-economic conditions. Development of biofortified maize would provide a cost-effective and sustainable solution to alleviate malnutrition. A set of 24 Northern Himalaya-adapted maize inbreds was analysed in four diverse locations for variability of kernel provitamin-A (proA) and vitamin-E (vitE). The inbreds were also analysed for allelic diversity for crtRB1 and vte4 genes, besides SSR markers. ANOVA revealed significant variation for proA (0.93–9.46 ppm), vitE (α-tocopherol: 6.50–17.81 ppm) and grain yield (1887–3325 kg/h). BAJIM-BIO-8 possessed favourable allele of crtRB1, while BAJIM-08–26, BAJIM-BIO-6, LM-17, BAJIM-BIO-3 and LM-16 had favourable allele of vte4. PMI-PV1 and PMI-PV2 possessed favourable alleles of both crtRB1 and vte4. The mean proA and vitE among crtRB1 and vte4 favourable genotypes were 9.35 ppm and 15.27 ppm, respectively, compared to wild type genotypes (proA: 1.43 ppm, and vitE: 8.63 ppm), respectively. Molecular characterisation was undertaken using 150 SSRs spread evenly across entire genome of which 75 markers were polymorphic that generated 195 alleles and classified the genotypes into three major groups. Based on genetic dissimilarity, potential heterotic cross-combinations with higher proA (BAJIM-BIO-8 × PMI-PV1, BAJIM-BIO-8 × PMI-PV1 and PMI-PV1 × PMI-PV2) and vitE (BAJIM-08–26 × LM-17, BAJIM-08–26 × PMI-PV1, BAJIM-08–26 × PMI-PV2, LM-17 × BAJIM-BIO-6, LM-17 × PMI-PV1, PMI-PV2 × BAJIM-BIO-6 and PMI-PV1 × PMI-PV2) were identified. PMI-PV1 and PMI-PV2 proved to be high-yielding, multinutrient-rich inbred lines with both higher proA and vitE. The information generated here would help in developing proA and vitE-rich maize for alleviating malnutrition, thereby supporting SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) of the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development.