Phenolics, anthocyanins, and antioxidant capacity in the tassels of purple waxy corn: Effects of temperature and time during storage

Corn tassel is an agricultural waste product that contains valuable phytochemicals and antioxidants with various potential uses. Proper post-harvest management is vital to maintain the bioactive compounds and favorable properties for processing. This study aimed to evaluate the responses of phenolics, anthocyanins, and antioxidant capacity of purple waxy corn tassels to different storage conditions and durations. Storage conditions (controlled vs. ambient) that varied in temperature and duration (ranging from 6 to 48 hours) significantly altered most of the observed parameters. Phenolics were more resistant to increased temperature and prolonged storage than anthocyanins. Determining the optimal storage duration was slightly complicated as the ideal duration for each observed parameter varied. The tassels can be stored at cold temperatures for up to 48, 6, and 24 hours to obtain the highest levels of phenolics, anthocyanins, and antioxidant activity, respectively. The correlation coefficients between phenolics and antioxidant activity were significant in both fresh and dried tassels. Optimizing the storage conditions to retain phenolics can also help maintain high levels of antioxidant capacity in corn tassels. Controlled storage conditions were the best way to retain tassel weight, phenolics, anthocyanins, and antioxidant capacity in the purple tassels of waxy corn. The most prolonged acceptable storage durations varied depending on the traits. The optimum light and oxygen exposures during storage and the best drying methods are still uncertain; therefore, further research is necessary to establish good handling practices for corn tassels

Corn Tassel: A New Source of Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Potential for Value-Added Product Development in the Agro-Industry

Corn tassel is a byproduct from hybrid corn seed production. It is also a new source of phytochemicals, including compounds with antioxidant activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical content and antioxidant potential of different corn tassel development stages. A 4 × 8 factorial experiment consisting of four tassel development stages and eight commercial corn varieties was carried out with a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data were collected for tassel weight, concentration and yield of total phenolics, total anthocyanin concentration, total carotenoid concentration, and antioxidant activity, as determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH•) radical scavenging assay and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity(TEAC) assays. Corn varieties and tassel developmental stages showed significant variations (p ≤ 0.01) in all parameters. P4546 presented the best variety for the total phenolic content (15.8 mg GAE/g DW sample), whereas Hibrix3 had the highest phenolic yield (6.78 kg GAE/ha). KGW1, a purple waxy variety, had the highest anthocyanin content (1528.0 µg CGE/g DW sample), anthocyanin yield (753.0 g CGE/ha), carotenoid content (74.9 µg/g DW sample), and carotenoid yield (53.7 g/ha). P4546 had the highest antioxidant activity: 92.4% for DPPH• and 76.1 µmol TE/g DW sample for the TEAC assay, respectively. The most appropriate time for tassel harvest to ensure the production of phytochemicals with high antioxidant activity should be from the 1st day of pollen shed until 50% of pollen shed. Phytochemicals and antioxidants that are extracted from corn tassel can be used as a functional food supplement, as natural pharmaceuticals, and in cosmetic products

Variability in Anthocyanins, Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity in the Tassels of Collected Waxy Corn Germplasm

Corn tassel is a valuable co-product and an excellent source of phytochemicals with bioactive properties. The information on the genetic diversity in the tassel properties of waxy corn germplasm is important for creating new varieties that can have the potential for the commercial production of tassels as a co-product. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of corn tassels in a set of waxy corn germplasm for the extraction of phenolic compounds with an antioxidant activity. The experiment was carried out under field conditions in the rainy season 2017 and the dry season 2017/2018. Fifty waxy corn genotypes were evaluated. Data were collected for the total anthocyanin content (TAC), total phenolic content (TPC) and the antioxidant activity was determined by the 2,2-diphenyl−1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assays. The season (S) had small effect on all of the parameters, accounting for 0.2–8.7% of the total variance. The genotype (G) was the largest variance component in the TAC and DPPH radical scavenging activity, accounting for 83.5–97.5% of the total variance. The G and S × G interaction contributed approximately equally to the total variance in the TPC and TEAC. Based on the TAC, TPC and antioxidant capacity variation, the genotypes were classified into seven groups. The tassels of corn genotypes belonging to three of these clusters (clusters E, F and G) had high levels of phytochemicals along with an antioxidant capacity. A significant correlation coefficient was found between the TAC and DPPH (r = 0.70 **). The TPC showed a moderate relationship with the DPPH and TEAC assays (r = 0.60 ** and 0.76 **, respectively). The information obtained from this study can be used for germplasm management and waxy corn breeding for enhancing levels of bioactive properties in waxy corn tassels.This article is published as Duangpapeng, Prakasit, Kamol Lertrat, Khomsorn Lomthaisong, Marvin Paul Scott, and Bhalang Suriharn. "Variability in anthocyanins, phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity in the tassels of collected waxy corn germplasm." Agronomy 9, no. 3 (2019): 158. doi: 10.3390/agronomy9030158.</p

Corn Tassel: A New Source of Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Potential for Value-Added Product Development in the Agro-Industry

Corn tassel is a byproduct from hybrid corn seed production. It is also a new source of phytochemicals, including compounds with antioxidant activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical content and antioxidant potential of different corn tassel development stages. A 4 × 8 factorial experiment consisting of four tassel development stages and eight commercial corn varieties was carried out with a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data were collected for tassel weight, concentration and yield of total phenolics, total anthocyanin concentration, total carotenoid concentration, and antioxidant activity, as determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH•) radical scavenging assay and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity(TEAC) assays. Corn varieties and tassel developmental stages showed significant variations (p ≤ 0.01) in all parameters. P4546 presented the best variety for the total phenolic content (15.8 mg GAE/g DW sample), whereas Hibrix3 had the highest phenolic yield (6.78 kg GAE/ha). KGW1, a purple waxy variety, had the highest anthocyanin content (1528.0 µg CGE/g DW sample), anthocyanin yield (753.0 g CGE/ha), carotenoid content (74.9 µg/g DW sample), and carotenoid yield (53.7 g/ha). P4546 had the highest antioxidant activity: 92.4% for DPPH• and 76.1 µmol TE/g DW sample for the TEAC assay, respectively. The most appropriate time for tassel harvest to ensure the production of phytochemicals with high antioxidant activity should be from the 1st day of pollen shed until 50% of pollen shed. Phytochemicals and antioxidants that are extracted from corn tassel can be used as a functional food supplement, as natural pharmaceuticals, and in cosmetic products.This article is published as Duangpapeng, Prakasit, Danupol Ketthaisong, Khomsorn Lomthaisong, Kamol Lertrat, Marvin Paul Scott, and Bhalang Suriharn. "Corn tassel: A new source of phytochemicals and antioxidant potential for value-added product development in the agro-industry." Agronomy 8, no. 11 (2018): 242. doi: 10.3390/agronomy8110242.</p

Corn Tassel: A New Source of Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Potential for Value-Added Product Development in the Agro-Industry

Corn tassel is a byproduct from hybrid corn seed production. It is also a new source of phytochemicals, including compounds with antioxidant activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical content and antioxidant potential of different corn tassel development stages. A 4 &#215; 8 factorial experiment consisting of four tassel development stages and eight commercial corn varieties was carried out with a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data were collected for tassel weight, concentration and yield of total phenolics, total anthocyanin concentration, total carotenoid concentration, and antioxidant activity, as determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH&#8226;) radical scavenging assay and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity(TEAC) assays. Corn varieties and tassel developmental stages showed significant variations (p &#8804; 0.01) in all parameters. P4546 presented the best variety for the total phenolic content (15.8 mg GAE/g DW sample), whereas Hibrix3 had the highest phenolic yield (6.78 kg GAE/ha). KGW1, a purple waxy variety, had the highest anthocyanin content (1528.0 &#181;g CGE/g DW sample), anthocyanin yield (753.0 g CGE/ha), carotenoid content (74.9 &#181;g/g DW sample), and carotenoid yield (53.7 g/ha). P4546 had the highest antioxidant activity: 92.4% for DPPH&#8226; and 76.1 &#181;mol TE/g DW sample for the TEAC assay, respectively. The most appropriate time for tassel harvest to ensure the production of phytochemicals with high antioxidant activity should be from the 1st day of pollen shed until 50% of pollen shed. Phytochemicals and antioxidants that are extracted from corn tassel can be used as a functional food supplement, as natural pharmaceuticals, and in cosmetic products

Development of maize inbred lines with elevated grain methionine concentration from a high methionine population

Methionine is a nutritionally limiting amino acid in poultry diets based on maize (Zea mays L.) grain. Synthetic dietary supplements are available but are costly and not preferred by organic poultry producers. The development of high methionine maize varieties would reduce the need for supplementation. Several approaches have been reported for achieving this goal. Here, we report a novel approach that can produce diverse inbred lines with higher content of methionine than other methods. Inbred lines were developed using doubled haploid technology from a broad-based synthetic population that has undergone mass selection for grain methionine concentration. Out of 18 randomly selected inbred lines, one was significantly higher in methionine concentration than the high methionine check and 11 were not significantly different from it. The inbred lines developed in this way also exhibited useful genetic diversity for several agronomic and kernel quality traits, including flowering date, and orangeness of the kernel. This approach is an excellent complement to other breeding methods for development of varieties for production of poultry feed. Because the approach does not rely on transgenic technology, the resulting lines are suitable for use by organic producers and are well suited to organic production systems.This article is published as Hintch, Taylor D., Adrienne Moran Lauter, Shelly M. Kinney, Thomas Lubberstedt, Ursula Frei, Prakasit Duangpapeng, Jode W. Edwards, and M. Paul Scott. "Development of maize inbred lines with elevated grain methionine concentration from a high methionine population." Crop Science (2023). doi:10.1002/csc2.20983.Works produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrighted within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted