Abstract
Waxy corn is a popular, alternative staple food in most Asian countries including Thailand. The availability of small-ear waxy corn genotypes with prolific ears and a high level of carotenoids is expected to benefit growers and consumers. Integrated evaluation among source germplasm is essential before performing further breeding efforts for enhancing prolific ears and high-carotenoid content. Thus, the present study explored the variability of ear prolificacy, total carotenoids, lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene among yellow small-ear waxy corn accessions. About 44 corn accessions and 4 check varieties were evaluated for agronomic traits and yield components under multienvironment trials in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). The immature seed sample of these genotypes was analyzed to quantify the content of total carotenoids and some carotenoid fractions. All traits showed that low GXE interaction and significant genotypic diversity existed among all tested accessions with the predominant contribution of genotype to total phenotypic variation and beta-carotene. Accessions were clustered into four major groups based on the similarity of multiple carotenoids profiles. Three selected accessions (UT121001, KKU-WX112087, and KKU-WX212001) had higher values of total carotenoids, lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene than those of all check varieties. High and positive correlations among second-emerged ears, marketable second-emerged ears, and total ear number indicate that a higher chance of secondary ears becomes marketable ears with an increase of total ears per plant per hectare. Lutein and zeaxanthin had positive, strong correlations with total carotenoids. The implications and breeding strategies are discussed prior to promoting yellow small-ear waxy corn as a biofortified crop.
Highlights
Carotenoids are of interest to human health
Carotenoids are plant pigments that normally can be found in plants, fruits, and vegetables accounting for red, orange, and yellow pigmentations [2]. ey consist of two major groups, namely, xanthophylls and carotene (β-carotene and α-carotene) [3]. e major fractions lutein and zeaxanthin are largely found in corn kernels [4] and play a primary role in human health associated with eyes [5], especially as antioxidants or blue light filters that can protect ocular tissues from phototoxic damage [6]. us, corn is a good source of non-provitamin A carotenoids with lutein and zeaxanthin as major components [7]
Promoting small-ear waxy corn as a biofortified crop is promising because the carotenoid contents especially lutein and zeaxanthin are increased after steaming [12], and consumer acceptability of provitamin A biofortified maize in South Africa is high [13]. e content of carotenoids is quantitative traits controlled by a few major genes [14]
Summary
Carotenoids are of interest to human health. their consumption is correlated with safeguard from numerous chronic diseases, such as reducing the risk of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and night blindness [1]. E major fractions lutein and zeaxanthin are largely found in corn kernels [4] and play a primary role in human health associated with eyes [5], especially as antioxidants or blue light filters that can protect ocular tissues from phototoxic damage [6]. E kernel coloration of fresh waxy corn is normally either white or bicolor purple and white, with a poor expression of carotenoids including lutein and zeaxanthin [10]. Promoting small-ear waxy corn as a biofortified crop is promising because the carotenoid contents especially lutein and zeaxanthin are increased after steaming [12], and consumer acceptability of provitamin A biofortified maize in South Africa is high [13]. While additive gene effects are important for lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-cryptoxanthin, nonadditive effects are predominant for beta-carotene and provitamin A [14]
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