AUTHOR=Elemosho Abdulazeez Olamilekan , Irondi Emmanuel Anyachukwu , Alamu Emmanuel Oladeji , Ajani Emmanuel Oladipipo , Maziya-Dixon Busie , Menkir Abebe 

TITLE=Characterization of Striga-Resistant Yellow-Orange Maize Hybrids for Bioactive, Carbohydrate, and Pasting Properties

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

VOLUME=Volume 4 - 2020

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainable-food-systems/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2020.585865

DOI=10.3389/fsufs.2020.585865

ISSN=2571-581X

ABSTRACT=Understanding the bioactive constituents and physicochemicals in cereals can provide insights into their potential health benefits and food applications. This study evaluated some bioactive constituents, carbohydrate profiles and pasting properties of 32 Striga-resistant hybrids, with yellow-orange kernel colour and semi-flint to flint kernel texture, grown at two field locations in Nigeria. Carotenoids were quantified using HPLC, while other analyses were carried out using standard laboratory methods. The ranges of major carotenoids (µg/g DW) across the two locations varied from 2.6 to 9.6 for lutein, from 2.1 to 9.7 for zeaxanthin, from 0.8 to 2.9 for β-cryptoxanthin, from 1.4 to 4.1 for β-carotene; with total xanthophylls and provitamin A carotenoids (pVAC) ranging from 5.4 to 17.1 and 1.4 to 4.1 µg/g DW, respectively. Tannins content ranged from 2.1 to 7.3 mg/g DW, while phytate ranged from 0.4 to 7.1% DW. Starch, free sugar, amylose and amylopectin ranged from 40.1 to 88.9%, 1.09 to 6.5%, 15.0 to 34.1% and 65.9 to 85.0%, respectively. Peak and final viscosities ranged from 57.8 to 114.9 and 120.3 to 261.6 RVU, respectively. Total xanthophylls and β-carotene varied significantly (p < 0.05) across the hybrids. Also, β-cryptoxanthin, β-carotene and pVAC varied significantly (p < 0.05) across the two locations. Hybrid and location had significant effect (p < 0.05) on tannins, phytate, sugar, amylose, amylopectin, peak and final viscosities. Amylose was significantly correlated (p < 0.05) with total xanthophylls, β-carotene, pVAC, phytate and pasting temperature (r = 0.3, 0.3, 0.4, 0.3, 0.3, respectively), but starch significantly correlated with tannins (r = 0.3). Hence, the Striga-resistant yellow-orange maize hybrids have good combination of bioactive constituents, carbohydrate profile and pasting properties, which are partly influenced by hybrid and location.