[Objective] The research aimed at introducing the background and utilization of germplasm resources in maize.[Method] The research progress on genetic background and utilization of maize germplasm resources was comprehensively reviewed in this paper,including maize heterotic groups and heterotic patterns,their flexible application in breeding and the utilization of various types of original materials.[Result] The results show that germplasm resource is the premise and basis for maize breeding.In-depth understanding and a reasonable selection of germplasm resources can significantly improve the breeding efficiency and speed up the breeding process.At the same time,it is considered that the selection and construction of original materials in maize breeding can not be limited to the heterotic groups and heterotic patterns,but has to be used reasonablely according to different types of germplasm resources and individual breeding objective and idea as well.[Conclusion] This study had broadened the idea and provided inspiration for the maize breeding practice in China.

The plant-type traits of 56 maize hybrids and 35 inbreds of their parents were analyzed in this article.The results showed that the correlation between plant-type and yield traits of maize hybrids is rarely significant,while that between different plant-type traits of maize inbreds is commonly significant.The cluster analysis of maize inbred plant-type traits could help finding the similarity of their morphological characters,so as to reflect their genetic variations.These results have somewhat directions for maize breeding.