Analysis of Nutritional Quality Attributes and Their Inter-Relationship in Maize Inbred Lines for Sustainable Livelihood

Sapna Langyan,Zahoor A Dar,R Z Sayyed,S Rakshit,Susila Herlambang,D P Chaudhary,Hesham El Enshasy,J C Shekhar

doi:10.3390/su13116137

Abstract

The present investigation was planned to understand the variability and inter-relationship among various nutritional quality attributes of maize kernels to identify potential donors of the respective traits for future hybridization programs. Sixty-three maize inbred lines were processed for the estimation of protein, starch, fat, sugar, 100-kernel weight, specific gravity, and moisture level of the grain. The results reveal that a wide variability among protein, starch, 100-kernel weight, specific gravity, and fat was seen, with special emphasis on the protein concentration that varied from 8.83 to 15.54%, starch (67.43–75.31%), and 100-kernel weight (9.14–36.11 gm). Factor analysis revealed that the protein concentration, starch, and 100-kernel weight, the three major components, comprise 68.58% of the kernel variability. Protein exhibited a significant negative correlation with starch and 100-kernel weight, indicating that an increase in the protein concentration will down-regulate the starch and 100-kernel weight. The inbred lines are proposed as donors for the development of high cultivars for their respective traits, viz., high protein (DMR WNC NY 403 and DMR WNC NY 404), high starch concentration (DMR WNC NY 2163, DMR WNC NY 2219, DMR WNC NY 2234, DMR WNC NY 2408, DMR WNC NY 2437, and DMR WNC NY 2466), high 100-kernel wt. (DMR WNC NY 2113, DMR WNC NY 2213, DMR WNC NY 2233, DMR WNC NY 2234, DMR WNC NY 2414, DMR WNC NY 2435, DMR WNC NY 2465, and DMR WNC NY 2474), sugar (DMR WNC NY 2417), and specific gravity (DMR WNC NY 2418). Genetic distance analysis revealed that DMR WNC NY 397 and DMR WNC NY 404 are the farthest apart inbred lines, having major differences in their protein, fat, starch, and sugar contents, followed by DMR WNC NY 2436 and DMR WNC NY 2394, DMR WNC NY 2212 and DMR WNC NY 2430, DMR WNC NY 396 and DMR WNC NY 2415, DMR WNC NY 404 and DMR WNC NY 2144, and DMR WNC NY403 and DMR WNC NY 2115. Moreover, this study proposes that these possible combinations of lines (in a breeding program) would result in genetic variability with simultaneous high values for the respective characteristics.

Highlights

Food insecurity and hunger affect more than 900 million people worldwide each year
The ANOVA indicated that the inbred lines differed significantly for all the nutritional quality traits of maize kernel (Table 2), and a wide variability among these quality traits was observed
These results reveal that the protein concentration exhibited a significant negative correlation with starch and 100-kernel weight

Summary

Introduction

Food insecurity and hunger affect more than 900 million people worldwide each year. People from poor and underdeveloped and some developing nations are at greater risk. About 5 million hungry people in the world die each year from nutrient deficiency. Sustainability 2021, 13, 6137 causes [1,2]. Women and children are more susceptible to nutrient deficiency due to reproduction and growth demands, respectively [3]. Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the world’s important cereal grain crops after rice and wheat.

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion