The feasibility of predicting total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in maize flours by NIRS was assessed in a set of 391 samples, comprising Italian and public inbred lines, F1 seeds, commercial hybrids and traditional varieties, using ABTS direct assay as reference value. A subset of 81 samples were also used to test the development of a calibration model for soluble phenolic content (SPC), whereas 101 samples were analysed by DPPH assay. The models obtained for TAC by ABTS in different genetic materials were characterized by a good stability of the regression coefficients and showed a RER>2, allowing to develop both global and specific predictive models for this trait. On the contrary, only specific models were developed for SPC, and no predictive models were obtained for TAC by DPPH assay. These results demonstrated that NIR spectroscopy could be applied efficiently to the screening of the genotypes currently selected for the food industry.
Keywords: Maize Germplasm; NIRS calibration; Soluble phenolic content; Total antioxidant capacity.
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