Understanding the starch digestibility characteristics of Indian maize hybrids

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of important cereals of tropic and tropic countries. It serves as the raw material for starch production. Among starch types, ‘resistant start’ is considered more beneficial for human health. Hence, the genotype (of maize) gains significance in selection for commercial cultivation. However, nutritional information on starch digestibility of maize genotypes is scarce. In this context, we analyzed a set of 80 maize hybrids for carbohydrate profile (sugar, starch, amylose, amylopectin) and resistant starch content. The results revealed significant variation for carbohydrate profile and resistant starch content among diverse maize hybrids. Pratap QPM Hybrid was found to be the highest, followed by FCH 184, RMH 3591, NT 6240 and CO 1 in terms of sugar content. For total starch, Rasi 3033 hybrid proved the best genotype followed by L 333 and HQPM 7. The genotype LG 3271 exhibited highest amylose content followed by Bio 9544, P 3502 and DHM 119, whereas NMH 731 was found to possess highest amylopectin content followed by Janahit 5053 and KDMH 176. For resistant starch, LG 3271 was the best genotype followed by P3502, KH 2192 and HQPM 1. Amylose and resistant starch content showed highly significant positive correlation (r = 0.550^**), whereas highly significant negative correlation has been observed between amylopectin and resistant starch content (r = -0.548^**). The scanning electron micrographs of genotypes having the highest and the lowest values of resistant starch revealed substantial differences in the granular structure showing that starch granules are compactly packed in the LG 3271.