Genetic variability for kernel tocopherols and haplotype analysis of γ-tocopherol methyl transferase (vte4) gene among exotic- and indigenous- maize inbreds

Publication date: Available online 31 January 2020Source: Journal of Food Composition and AnalysisAuthor(s): Abhijit Kumar Das, Vignesh Muthusamy, Rajkumar U. Zunjare, Aanchal Baveja, Hema S. Chauhan, Jayant S. Bhat, Satish K. Guleria, Bhupender Kumar, Supradip Saha, Firoz HossainABSTRACTVitamin-E deficiency is a serious health problem worldwide. In maize, α-tocopherol possessing the highest vitamin-E activity is regulated by vte4 gene. Here, 54 maize inbreds possessing three favourable (0/0, 7/0 and 0/118) and one unfavourable (7/118) haplotypes of vte4 were evaluated at three locations. Significant variation was observed for α-, γ-, δ- and total-tocopherol. Variation in β-tocopherol was narrow. The mean α-tocopherol of 0/0, 7/0 and 0/118 haplotypes was much higher than the unfavourable (7/118) haplotype. Further, 0/0, 0/118 and 7/0 haplotypes possessed higher proportion of α-tocopherol/ total tocopherol than 7/118 haplotype. α-, γ- and δ- tocopherols were positively correlated (r = 0.56, 0.88 and 0.45, respectively) with total tocopherol. Across tocopherols, genotypes explained 34.7-90.4%, while environment represented 0.3-21.7% of total variation. β- and δ-tocopherols were minute in concentration, and α- and γ- tocopherols were the predominant fractions. This is the first report on genetic analysis of tocopherols among maize inbreds possessing four haplotypes of vte4 for use in biofortification programs in India.
Source: Journal of Food Composition and Analysis - Category: Food Science Source Type: research