Diversity of Maize (Zea Mays) Along an Altitudinal Gradient of Kuloor Watershed Kumaun Himalaya, India

Abstract Zea mays belongs to the family Gramineae (Poaceae) commonly known as Maize. Maize is another Kharif crop locally known as "bhutta," "ghokka," "makka" in the study area Kullor watershed. A total of six landraces of maize are grown in the study area and among these, highest frequency of cultivation (60%) is of the variety Lal and the lowest of Timasia and Pahari (6.6%) each. Considering that the studied watershed is representative of western Himalayan conditions, the results obtained on diversity and distribution of different landraces clearly indicate some of the traditional crops and their landraces are being given greater importance by inhabitants, for instance Lal (IV-95.1), Timasia (IV-38.8) and Safed (IV-31.9) among maize landraces. Keywords: Maize, Kuloor Valley, Altitudinal Gradient, Landraces