Studies on genetic diversity for Yield in Maize(Zea mays L.)

Maize or corn (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important cereal crops in the world and a strategic food crop for the majority of the developing countries. Being a C4 plant, it has a very high yield potential, probably the highest among the cereal which designates it as ''Queen of Cereals''. It is grown almost in all states of India and occupies a prominent position concerning area and production. Maize is one of the staple food crops globally. In the world, it ranks third next to wheat and husked rice in production and ranks second next to wheat. Maize is predominantly a Kharif season crop. Every part of the maize plant has economic value: the grain, leaves, stalk, tassel, and shank can all be used to produce a large variety of food and non-food products. The grains apart from food as bread pops and gruel are used for many industrial products like the manufacture of starch, alcohol, acetic and lactic acids, glucose, paper, rayon, plastic, textile, adhesives, dyes, synthetic rubber, resins, artificial leather, and boot-polish. Maize is, therefore, an emerging industrial crop.