Genetic divergence estimated by RAPD markers and its relationship with hybrid performance in popcorn

The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity of six popcorn inbred lines and to determine the relationship between combing ability and heterosis for grain yield and popping expansion and genetic distance, using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) molecular markers. The genetic distance based on Dice coefficient ranged from 0.086 to 0.212. The highest genetic distance was found between inbreds ZPL2 and ZPL5. Hybrid combination of these two inbreds has the highest grain yield, grain yield heterosis and popping expansion heterosis. A positive and significant correlation was observed in parental lines between grain yield and SCA with genetic distance based on RAPD markers. The genetic divergence, however, was not enough to determine the grain yield heterosis as well as heterosis and specific combining ability for popping expansion