CLASSIFICATION OF FRENCH MAIZE POPULATIONS BASED ON MORPHOLOGICAL TRAITS

The genetic variability of the whole collection of 262 maize populatio ns originating from metropolitan France was evaluated in two locations for agro-morphological traits, The most important variables in the pr incipal component (PC) axis were related to maturity traits, and ear a nd grain shapes. On the first plane of the PC analysis, the distributi on of populations was continuous, and populations from some particular regions were found grouped together: Pyrenees (early material and con ical ears), Alsace (cylindrical ears), Bresse (mostly small kernels), Vallee de la Garonne (late material with long ears or with small kerne ls). The two distance matrices among populations calculated on the fir st four PC and on the geographic coordinates were correlated. Based on the first four standardized PC axes, which accounted for 77% of the v ariability, hierarchical classifications were computed and dendrograms confirmed the magnitude of maturity traits, and ear and kernel shapes in the classification.