Estimating breeding value of agrobiologic traits in maize (Zea mays L.) under normal and salinity stress conditions based on single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker

The first step in maize breeding programs is to use the genetic diversity existing between populations, cultivars and genotypes. Molecular markers provide the possibility to estimate the breeding value of agrobiological traits of genotytpes using best liner unbiased prediction (BLUP). In this study, the breeding value for ten traits including weight of 100 grains, days to maturity, diameter of ear together with grain, ear length, leaf weight, leaf number, plant height, stem diameter, leaf length and yield were predicted in 73 lines with high phenotypic diversity under normal and stress conditions using the best liner unbiased prediction (BLUP) procedure. Considering the sum of ranks of the breeding values ​​of all the studied traits, P13L3, Line1, Line4 and Line17 were the best genotypes. Under normal conditions, P3L2 genotype for days to maturity and plant height, Line6 genotype for diameter of ear together with grain and yield and Line19 genotype for ear length, plant height, yield and stem diameter showed high and positive breeding values. Under salt stress conditions, Line2 genotype for weight of 100 grains, diameter of ear together with grain, ear length and Line16 genotype for days to maturity, leaf weight and plant height showed high and positive breeding values. As genotypes with high and positive breeding values can better transfer their characteristics to their progenies, so they can be introduced as a suitable parent for breeding of these traits in breeding programs.