Effects of Mass Selection on Husk and Cob Color in Five Purple Field Corn Populations Segregating for Purple Husks

Ponsawan Khamphasan,Bhornchai Harakotr,Marvin Paul Scott,Kamol Lertrat,Bhalang Suriharn,Khomsorn Lomthaisong

doi:10.3390/agriculture10080311

Ponsawan Khamphasan, Bhornchai Harakotr + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture10080311

Copy DOI

Journal: Agriculture	Publication Date: Jul 27, 2020
Citations: 3	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Khon Kaen University, Thammasat University

Abstract

Improvement of anthocyanin levels in husks and cobs of field corn may add economic value to corn coproducts in commercial production. This study aimed to evaluate the response to four cycles of modified mass selection (MMS) for yield, agronomic traits, total anthocyanin yield (TAY), total anthocyanin content (TAC), total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity assay (DPPH) and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assay (TEAC) in corn husk and cob of five purple field corn populations. The improved populations and check varieties were evaluated at two locations for two seasons in 2017/2018. Selection cycle contributed to a large portion of the total variations for TAC, TPC, DPPH and TEAC in corn husk and cob. All tested populations showed progress for days to anthesis, TAY, TAC, TPC, DPPH and TEAC across four cycles of selection. Lack of significant correlation between agronomic traits and anthocyanin concentrations suggested the independent segregation of these traits. MMS was successfully used to develop field corn populations with improved anthocyanin, antioxidant activities and early flowering without significant yield loss. The populations with the highest selection gains for anthocyanin in husk and cob were identified. Visual selection for dark purple husks and cobs boosted anthocyanin levels and antioxidant activity in selected populations.

Highlights

Field corn is an important crop in the world and an excellent source of food and animal feed.The kernels provide abundant nutrients, including carbohydrates, oil and protein [1]
The results demonstrated the effectiveness of improving anthocyanin levels and antioxidant activity through modified mass selection
Our results demonstrated the efficacy of modified mass selection to increase anthocyanin Our results demonstrated the efficacy of modified mass selection to increase anthocyanin concentration in the improved populations after four cycles of selection (Figure 2)

Summary

Introduction

Field corn is an important crop in the world and an excellent source of food and animal feed.The kernels provide abundant nutrients, including carbohydrates, oil and protein [1]. In particular, is rich in anthocyanins and related traits such as total phenolic compound and antioxidant activity [3,4,5], and accumulation of high value compounds such as anthocyanins in specific tissues makes it possible to develop production strategies for high value chemicals using these tissues as feedstock. Anthocyanin is a natural purple pigment and an antioxidant agent [4] with human health benefits. It reduces the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer [6] and obesity [7]. Safety issues related to purple corn color (PCC), a natural

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion