International Journal of Agricultural Science Research Vol. 5(1), pp. 019-026, February 2016 ISSN 2327-3321 ©2016 Academe Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Diversity of maize landraces collected at farm level in Northern Tanzania

Nestory S.* and Reuben S. O. W. M.

Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: snestory01@gmail.co.

Accepted 10 February, 2016

Abstract

Crop genetic diversity is the basic key for combating agricultural production challenges resources found in farming communities for genetic improvement and productivity. In this research, 15 maize landraces were evaluated based on morphological traits in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications at Selian Agricultural Research Institute during the growing season of 2014/2015. Quantification of variability was done using Shannon-Weaver Diversity Index further subjected to Principle Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis. The results on quantitative and qualitative data indicated high variability of traits with diversity value of 0.99 by Shannon Weaver Diversity Index. Results of Principle Components Analysis showed that 19 variables were reduced and grouped into six principle components of fourteen with eigen values greater than 1. Six principle components were produced and these principle components had cumulative explained variances of 84.23%. The first principle component accounted for 29.40% of the total variation, while principle components two and three accounted for 44.20% and 57.20% respectively. Three clusters were observed with seven maize landraces on the first cluster, five maize landraces were displayed on the second cluster and three maize landraces were displayed on the last cluster. The diversity evident from the quantitative and qualitative traits suggests that there is opportunity for genetic improvement in breeding programs for hybrid development through selection.

Key words: Crop, clusters, genetic, diversity, landraces, component.