Content of β-Carotene in Kernel of Hybrid Corn with Specific Properties

Abstract

Zrno kukuruza je značajan izvor β-karotena, koji predstavlja provitamin A, neophodan za dobar vid, jačanje imunološkog sistema i održavanje zdrave kože kod ljudi. Selekcija kukuruza u poslednjim godinama fokusirana je na stvaranje hibrida specifičnih svojstava sa poboljšanim nutritivnim sastavom, uključujući karotenoide. Karotenoidi daju zrnu karakterističnu žutu boju; kod kukuruza šećerca ona je intenzivnija i povezuje se sa slatkoćom, dok kod kokičara doprinosi vizuelnom utisku gotovih kokica. Jednogodišnji ogled (2013/2014) postavljen je na oglednom imanju Instituta za kukuruz „Zemun Polje“ po RCBD metodu u četiri ponavljanja. Cilj istraživanja bio je da se utvrdi sadržaj β-karotena u zrnu hibrida kukuruza šećerca (ZP 421su) i kokičara (ZP 611k), gajenih nakon pokrovnih useva zasejanih u jesen (30.10.2013). Setva hibrida kukuruza obavljena je narednog proleća (12.05.2014) pri gustini od 65.000 biljaka po hektaru. Tretmani su uključivali šest pokrovnih useva: običnu grahoricu, ozimi krmni grašak, ozimi ovas, ozimi krmni kelj i dve smeše (grahorica + ovas i grašak + ovas), kao i dve kontrole (malč – slama i bez biljnog pokrivača). Nakon zaoravanja nadzemne biomase primenjeno je mikrobiološko đubrivo. Rezultati su pokazali da su svi faktori imali statistički značajan uticaj (p<0,01) na sadržaj β-karotena u zrnu kod oba hibrida. Kod kukuruza šećerca najbolji rezultati postignuti su sa leguminoznim pokrovnim usevima (grahorica 2,48 μg/g i ozimi grašak 2,12 μg/g), kao i kod smeše grahorica+ovas (2,03 μg/g) uz primenu mikrobiološkog đubriva. Kod kukuruza kokičara najveći sadržaj β-karotena izmeren je u tretmanima sa malčom od slame bez đubriva (2,28 μg/g) i sa ozimim krmnim keljom uz primenu đubriva (2,06 μg/g). Zaključeno je da održivi sistemi gajenja uz primenu pokrovnih useva i mikrobioloških đubriva mogu doprineti povećanju nutritivnog kvaliteta zrna, posebno u pogledu sadržaja β-karotena.Corn kernel is a significant source of β-carotene, which is a provitamin A essential for good vision, immune system support, and healthy skin. Recent maize breeding has focused on developing hybrids with specific nutritional improvements, including higher carotenoid content. Carotenoids provide the yellow coloration of kernels; in sweet corn, this is more intense and associated with sweetness, while in popcorn, it enhances visual quality and consumer appeal. A one-year field experiment (2013/2014) was conducted at the Maize Research Institute “Zemun Polje” following the RCBD design with four replications. The aim was to determine the β-carotene content in kernels of sweet corn (ZP 421su) and popcorn (ZP 611k) hybrids grown after cover crops sown in autumn (October 30, 2013). Sowing of corn hybrids was done in spring (May 12, 2014) at a density of 65,000 plants per hectare. Cover crop treatments included six species: common vetch, winter forage pea, winter oats, winter forage kale, and two mixtures (vetch + oats and pea + oats), plus two control variants (mulch – straw and no cover crop). Microbial fertilizer was applied after plowing the above-ground biomass. Analysis of variance showed that all factors had a statistically significant effect (p<0.01) on β-carotene content in both hybrids. For sweet corn, treatments with legumes (common vetch 2.48 μg/g and winter forage pea 2.12 μg/g) and the mixture vetch+oats (2.03 μg/g) with microbial fertilizer showed the highest levels. For popcorn, the highest β-carotene contents were found in the mulch (straw) treatment without fertilizer (2.28 μg/g) and in winter forage kale with fertilizer (2.06 μg/g). The results indicate that sustainable cultivation systems using cover crops and microbial fertilizers can positively influence the nutritional quality of maize, especially concerning β-carotene content