The variations in maize grain composition induced by different environments

Abstract

Nine maize hybrids were grown with the aim to determine variations in chemical composition of the grain. Analyzed hybrids were grown in split-plot experimental design with tree replications in Sremska Mitrovica and Zemun Polje, during the summer of 2010 and 2011. Grain yield, protein, starch, oil, as well as, antioxidants like phytate, soluble phenolics and free sulfhydryl groups (PSH) were analyzed. Unfavorable meteorological conditions affected not only grain yield, but its chemical composition too, by decreasing starch, phenolics and PSH and increasing protein, oil and phytate concentrations. Hybrids from the FAO 600 maturity group achieved higher grain yield during unfavourable conditions, with higher starch and phytate contents and decreased levels of PSH and phenolics. Hybrids from the FAO 500 maturity group were much more stable in respect of protein and oil contents, irrespective to year and location. The grain yield did not have the same source of variations as the factors which determine nutritional quality, an exception being oil content, which decreased with the increase in the grain yield.