abstract
- © 2018 AACC International, Inc.Background and objectives: Commercial yellow corn contains approximately 4% oil whereas improved high-oil corn (HOC) genotypes from 6% to 9% oil. The higher oil increases digestible energy and protein content. Improved HOC grains of white and yellow corn hybrids adapted to subtropical ecosystems were analyzed for total oil content and fatty acid (FA) composition. The anatomical properties of kernels were determined, and total oil content and FA compositions were assessed. Findings: Significant differences were observed among white and yellow hybrids in terms of oil content and FAs. The oil content in yellow and white hybrids ranged from 6% to 9% and from 5% to 8%, respectively. The oil content was positively correlated with the size of the germ (r = 0.55 p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with that of the endosperm (r = ¿0.484 p < 0.001). Oleic acid (OLA) comprised 36%¿51% of the total FAs, whereas linoleic acid (LOA) in yellow and white hybrids ranged from 35% to 52%, and from 37% to 50%, respectively. Conclusions: The subtropical-adapted yellow and white HOC hybrids contained from 7% to 8% oil with diverse FA profiles. The observed differences in LOAs and OLAs among genotypes can be further studied in order to obtain refined oils with different iodine values and oxidative stability. Significance and novelty: This research demonstrated that the development of HOC hybrids adapted to subtropical environments was feasible and that improved hybrids differed in FA composition providing new opportunities for breeding high-oleic commercial genotypes.