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Increase in β-Ionone, a Carotenoid-Derived Volatile in Zeaxanthin-Biofortified Sweet Corn

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Gallon, C. Z., Fuller, S. C., Fanning, K. J., Smyth, H. E., Pun, S., Martin, I. F. and O’Hare, T. J. (2013) Increase in β-Ionone, a Carotenoid-Derived Volatile in Zeaxanthin-Biofortified Sweet Corn. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 61 (30). pp. 7181-7187. ISSN 0021-8561

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Article Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jf402326e

Abstract

Carotenoids are responsible for the yellow color of sweet corn (Zea mays var. saccharata), but are also potentially the source of flavor compounds from the cleavage of carotenoid molecules. The carotenoid-derived volatile, -ionone, was identified in both standard yellow sweet corn (Hybrix5) and a zeaxanthin-enhanced experimental variety (HZ) designed for sufferers of macular degeneration. As -ionone is highly perceivable at extremely low concentration by humans, it was important to confirm if alterations in carotenoid profile may also affect flavor volatiles. The concentration of -ionone was most strongly correlated (R2 > 0.94) with the -arm carotenoids, -carotene, -cryptoxanthin, and zeaxanthin, and to a lesser degree (R2 = 0.90) with the α-arm carotenoid, zeinoxanthin. No correlation existed with either lutein (R2 = 0.06) or antheraxanthin (R2 = 0.10). Delaying harvest of cobs resulted in a significant increase of both carotenoid and -ionone concentrations, producing a 6-fold increase of ?-ionone in HZ and a 2-fold increase in Hybrix5, reaching a maximum of 62g/kg FW and 24g/kg FW, respectively.

Item Type:Article
Business groups:Crop and Food Science
Subjects:Science > Biology > Biochemistry
Plant culture > Field crops > Corn. Maize
Live Archive:01 Jul 2014 05:24
Last Modified:01 Dec 2022 05:08

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