Biochemical and molecular characterization of sub-tropical maize germplasm for tocopherols

Abstract

Vitamin E (α-tocopherol) deficiency is one of the serious health concerns among malnutrition in human beings. Exploration of genetic variation for vitamin E in maize germplasm will prove a long-term and cost-effective approach for developing biofortified cultivars. In the present study, 64 maize inbreds were characterized for tocopherols by RP-HPLC and other parameters. A significant genetic variability for α-, γ-, β-, and δ- tocopherols was observed in the germplasm. Maximum δTcontent was present in I188 (7503 ppm) while VL109126 (1499 ppm) showed higher αT content. A positive correlation was observed between αT and carotenoid pigments present in the kernels, whereas αT and oil content showed a negative association. Molecular characterization for αT using VTE4 (ϒ-tocopherol methyltransferase) gene-based InDel marker grouped the germplasm into four distinct haplotypes viz., 0/0 (23), 7/118 (19), 0/118 (14), and 0/7 (8). Three (VL109126, PML224, PML384) and two (MIL41, PML1228) inbreds had 0/0 and 0/118 haplotype, respectively, for the highest αT content. The identified inbreds with favorable αT haplotype could be deployed in maize biofortification programs for the enhancement of vitamin E and also along with other nutritional traits like QPM and β-carotene through marker-assisted backcross breeding to provide nation nutritional security.