@article{
author = "Dragičević, Vesna and Brankov, Milan and Stoiljkovic, Milovan and Tolimir, Miodrag and Travlos, Ilias and Simić, Milena",
year = "2022",
abstract = "Maize is an important staple crop and a significant source of various nutrients.
We aimed to determine the macronutrients, antioxidants, and essential
elements in maize genotypes (white, yellow, and red kernel) using three
different fertilizers, which could be used as a basis to increase the nutrient
density of maize. The fertilizer treatments used bio- and organic fertilizers as a
sustainable approach, urea, as a commonly used mineral fertilizer, and the
control (no fertilization). We evaluated the yield, concentration of
macronutrient (protein, oil, and starch), nonenzymatic antioxidants
(phenolics, yellow pigment, total glutathione (GSH), and phytic phosphorus),
and reduction capacity of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, as
well as essential elements that are commonly deficient in the diet (Mg, Ca, Fe,
Mn, Zn, Cu, and S) and their relationships with phytic acid. The genotype
expressed the strongest effect on the variability of grain yield and the analyzed
grain constituents. The red-kernel hybrid showed the greatest accumulation of
protein, oil, phenolics, and essential elements (Ca, Fe, Cu, and S) than a yellow
and white hybrid, especially in the biofertilizer treatment. The yellow kernel had
the highest concentrations of yellow pigment, GSH, phytic phosphorous, Mg,
Mn, and Zn (19.61 µg g−1
, 1,134 nmol g−1
, 2.63 mg g−1
, 1,963 µg g−1
, 11.7 µg g−1
,
and 33.9 µg g−1
, respectively). The white kernel had a greater starch
concentration (2.5% higher than that in the red hybrid) and the potential
bioavailability of essential metals, particularly under no fertilization. This
supports the significance of white maize as a staple food in many traditional
diets across the world. Urea was important for the enhancement of the
antioxidant status (with 88.0% reduction capacity for the DPPH radical) and
increased potential Zn bioavailability in the maize kernels (13.3% higher than
that in the biofertilizer treatment). This study underlines the differences in the
yield potential and chemical composition of red, yellow, and white-kernel
maize and their importance as a necessary part of a sustainable human diet.
This information can help determine the most appropriate genotype based on
the antioxidants and/or essential elements targeted for kernel improvement.",
publisher = "Lausanne : Frontiers",
journal = "Frontiers in plant science",
title = "Kernel color and fertilization as factors of enhanced maize quality",
pages = "1-13",
doi = "10.3389/fpls.2022.1027618"
}
