Anthocyanin content, total phenolic content, and antiradical capacity in different ear components of purple waxy corn at two maturation stages

Abstract The use of corn wastes should increase production efficiency. The objective of this study was to evaluate anthocyanin content, phenolic content and antioxidant activity in kernel, cob, silk, and husk of purple waxy corn. Three varieties of purple waxy corn and a commercial check were planted in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data were recorded for anthocyanin content, anthocyanin yield, phenolic content and antioxidant activity determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging ability (DPPH) and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) methods at edible stage (20 days after pollination; DAP) and seed stage (35 DAP). Significant differences between kernel maturity stages and among corn varieties and ear components were observed. Seed stage had significantly higher anthocyanin content, phenolic content and antioxidant activity than edible stage. KKU-OP and commercial check had the highest anthocyanin content, anthocyanin yield, DPPH and TEAC at edible and seed maturity stages. Corn silk had high anthocyanin content, DPPH and TEAC at seed stage, but corn cob had the highest anthocyanin content per unit of area. KKU-OP had the highest anthocyanin content, DPPH and TEAC at both maturity stages, whereas KKU-OP and KKU-WX111031 had the highest anthocyanin yield at edible and seed stages, respectively. Corn silk and corn cob had anthocyanins and can be used as a source of anthocyanins in food industry. KKU-OP and KKU-WX111031 had high anthocyanins and antioxidant activity and could be used as an alternative source of bioactive compounds for the functional food industry and a germplasm source for high anthocyanins

Seed Germination in Relation to Total Sugar and Starch in Endosperm Mutant of Sweet Corn Genotypes

The use of combinations of two or more genes controlling carbohydrate characters of corn is an attractive way to improve table quality of sweet corn. Poor seed quality of the inbred lines hinders the progress of this strategy for hybrid seed production. The objective of this study was to evaluate sweet corn inbred lines with combinations of double and triple recessive genes for germination percentage, seed vigor, total sugar content, and starch content. Eleven sweet corn genotypes including seven inbred lines (F6 generation) with different combinations of genes controlling carbohydrate characters and four F1 hybrids were used. The germination experiment was conducted under standard test between papers (BP) and accelerated aging (AA) test. The data were recorded for germination percentage, germination speed, normal and abnormal seedling, seedling length, and seedling dry weight. The seeds were analyzed for total sugar and starch content in endosperm at maturity stage. The results showed that single recessive genotype (sh2sh2) had high germination percentage and seedling vigor. The combinations of bt or sh2 gene with wx gene resulted in low germination percentage and poor seedling vigor. However, combinations of triple recessive genes (btbt sh2sh2 wxwx) had good germination in BP test but they performed poorly in AA test