Abstract

MICHEL, Mariela R. et al. Environmental effects on chemical composition and physical properties of polyembryonic maize grain. TIP [online]. 2020, vol.23, e20200221.  Epub June 20, 2020. ISSN 1405-888X.  https://doi.org/10.22201/fesz.23958723e.2020.0.221.

Polyembryony has been reported in maize (Zea mays L.) since the 20th century. This trait is defined as the appearance of two or more seedlings from a germinated seed and has been associated with improvements in the nutritional content of the grain. Maize kernel traits are affected by different factors among them the growing location. Thus, it is important to determine the environmental (location) effect on polyembryonic kernel traits. The purpose of this study was to determine the environmental effects on the physical and chemical properties of polyembryonic maize kernels. Thirty-two maize genotypes with different levels of polyembryony (high, low and non-polyembryonic) were planted in two different locations with distinct climate (Buenavista, Coahuila and Río Bravo, Tamaulipas, Mexico). Results showed that at the Buenavista location, maize lines had a greater weight of one thousand grains (272 - 367 g), the non-polyembryonic lines showed the highest weight. Besides, the low polyembryonic maize lines promoted the largest grain dimensions. The polyembryonic maize had the biggest embryos, which occupied 11.37 -11.59% of the grain. At the Río Bravo, in comparison to Buenavista, the polyembryonic maize lines had the highest protein (4.56%) and fat (5%) contents, while the raw fiber (1.2%) was highest in non-polyembryonic maize, meanwhile at, the Buenavista location, the starch content (59.2%) was higher in non-polyembryonic maize, while ashes (1.4%) and moisture (13.7%) were higher in polyembryonic maize. Growing polyembryonic maize genotypes in different environments, it was observed that the bromatological profile is affected by environmental conditions. In this study, a better nutritional content was observed in maize genotypes grown at Río Bravo in comparison to those maize genotypes grown at Buenavista. So, this study suggests that it is possible to produce polyembryonic maize genotypes in different environments which will have a different bromatological profile and can be employed for specific industrial uses.

Keywords : Zea mays L; grain; polyembryony; nutritional quality.