Assessing potential of teosinte in diversification of maize germplasm for kernel protein

Maize underwent domestication from the wild progenitor teosinte (Zea mays ssp. parviglumis) in the Balsas River valley of Mexico. During domestication and selective breeding, modern maize has probably lost many alleles for kernel size and composition leading to significant disparity in kernel protein content. To address the low protein content in maize kernel than its wild progenitor, we developed and investigated BC1F2:3 population derived from crossing between maize inbred line CML-451 and teosinte (Zea mays ssp. parviglumis). The data on ear traits and protein content were recorded on 126 BC1F2:3 individual cobs and parental lines. The protein content of among the BC1F2:3 lines had highly significant variation which varied from 9.53 to 16.49