Phenolic Profile and Susceptibility to Fusarium Infection of Pigmented Maize Cultivars

TLDR

Maize is a global staple, and ancient varieties are gaining renewed interest. The study examined two pigmented Italian maize cultivars and an inbred line for their phenolic composition, antioxidant capacity, and resistance to Fusarium verticillioides. Phenolic profiles were determined untargetedly, antioxidant activity measured in vitro, and fungal resistance assessed against Fusarium verticillioides. Rostrato Rosso displayed the highest anthocyanin and tyrosol levels and strong resistance to fungal penetration, indicating its promise for breeding more resistant, nutraceutical maize.

Abstract

Maize is a staple food source in the world, whose ancient varieties or landraces are receiving a growing attention. In this work, two Italian maize cultivars with pigmented kernels and one inbred line were investigated for untargeted phenolic profile, in vitro antioxidant capacity and resistance to Fusariumverticillioides infection. "Rostrato Rosso" was the richest in anthocyanins whilst phenolic acids were the second class in abundance, with comparable values detected between cultivars. Tyrosol equivalents were also the highest in "Rostrato Rosso" (822.4 mg kg-1). Coherently, "Rostrato Rosso" was highly resistant to fungal penetration and diffusion. These preliminary findings might help in breeding programs, aiming to develop maize lines more resistant to infections and with improved nutraceutical value.