Aim : Methodology :Results : Interpretation :The aim of the current study was to analyze the molecular diversity and genetic relationship among selected maize inbreds using SSR markers.Genomic DNA of individual inbreds was isolated by using the standard CTAB procedure (Doyle and Doyle, 1987) with some modifications. Thermal cycler was used to perform the polymerase chain reactions. 50ng of genomic DNA was used in 10 μl total volume with a final concentration of 10X buffer, MgCl (50 μM), each primers (10 μM), nucleotides (2.5 mM) and 1 U Red DNA polymerase. Amplified PCR products were resolved by electrophoresis on horizontal gel (3.0% Agarose gel) system using 1x TBE Buffer. The gels were photographed with CCD camera attached to a gel documentation system.In total, 191 alleles were detected which showed a range of 2 to 6 alleles per marker and an average value of 3.82 alleles per locus. Polymorphic information content (PIC) value showed a range of 0.050 (umc1069) to 0.817 (bnlg1823) with an average value of 0.585 indicating the efficiency of markers to study the level of polymorphism available in the maize inbred lines. The value of genetic similarity coefficients for the twenty maize inbreds based on 50 SSR markers ranged from 0.51 to 0.74. The maximum value of similarity coefficient was observed between CIM-127 vs CIM-130, whereas the minimum value of it was between TSK-7 vs TSK-2, TSK-41 vs TSK-2. Cluster analyses, done using matrices of similarity in the NTSYS-pc software, classified studied inbred lines into four distinct clusters, Cluster A, B, C and D comprising of 5, 5, 5 and 5 maize inbred lines, respectively.In this study, PIC values indicated a good efficiency of markers for studying the polymorphism level available in studied inbred lines. High level of diversity among the inbreds detected with SSR markers indicated their suitability for further breeding programs.

Wild relatives of crops, sorghum being no exception, continue to play a key role in the development of high performing cultivars. Among the 22 species comprising this highly variable genus, only one, Sorghum bicolor, is commercially cultivated for food, feed and bioenergy production. The wild sorghums thus offer opportunities for further genetic enhancement of this crop. Profi table utilization of wild species however demands an inter-disciplinary, multi-pronged approach to increase the probability of achieving the desired genetic improvement. To this end, this chapter presents a review of the current knowledge on (1) biosystematic aspects such as botany, taxonomy and classifi cation, (2) domestication and evolution, including centers of diversity, genetic diversity, chromosome homologies and species/ phylogenetic relationships, (3) genetic resources, genepools and conservation perspectives including collections and preservation of germplasm, (4) utilization aspects including the specifi c potential of the wild species in crop improvement with reference to insect and disease resistance, yield, grain quality, ecological adaptation, allopatric resistance, and (5) strategies to maximize utilization of wild germplasm