Maize (Zea mays L.) represents the main caloric source for much of the world's population. Pigmented maize varieties are an excellent source of nutraceutical compounds: blue and yellow maize are rich in anthocyanins as well as carotenoids and phenolic acids, respectively. However, blue maize is usually grown in small quantities as a specialty crop because it lacks the qualities and adaptations of commercial white and yellow varieties. Here, a new high-yield variety of blue maize called Vitamaiz was developed from inbred lines of subtropical blue, white, and yellow maize. The aim of this study was to characterize the nutraceutical and physical properties of 30 Vitamaiz hybrids in two subtropical locations. Kernel physical traits, nutrient composition, and nutraceutical components (free phenolic acids, FPA; cell wall-bound phenolic acids, BPA; total monomeric anthocyanin content, TAC; antioxidant capacity, AOX by oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay, and total carotenoid content, TCC) were evaluated. The biophysical traits of the hybrids were suitable for nixtamalized and flour maize industries. High levels of FPA (228 mg GAE/100 g), BPA (635 mg GAE/100 g), and AOX (2.0 and 8.1 mM Trolox equivalent/100 g for FPA and BPA, respectively) were also detected with elevated TAC levels (274 mg C3G/kg dw) and AOX activity (3.1 mM Trolox equivalent/100 g). This is the first study to characterize Blue × Yellow maize hybrids that adapt to subtropical environments.
Keywords: Zea mays L.; anthocyanin; carotenoids; nutraceutical properties; phenolic acid; pigmented maize.