2023-04-19 イリノイ大学アーバナ・シャンペーン校
マイクロ栄養素やタンパク質不足の問題がある地域においては、このような改良が有益となる可能性がある。研究者たちは、トウモロコシの胚乳内にある外側に近い細胞層であるアリューロン層を増やすことで、鉄分を最大35％、亜鉛を最大15％増やすことができることを発見し、トウモロコシの品種改良の簡易化が可能であることを示した。また、この改良によって、食品産業において人工着色料の代替品として使われる赤紫色の色素であるアントシアニンの量が増加することもわかった。将来的には、トウモロコシの品種改良により、マイクロ栄養素不足の解決につながる可能性がある。
＜関連情報＞
- https://aces.illinois.edu/news/simple-addition-corn-bran-could-boost-grains-nutritional-value-15-35
- https://academic.oup.com/g3journal/advance-article/doi/10.1093/g3journal/jkad085/7128031
トウモロコシの栄養価を高めるためのアリューロン層数および果皮の収量の増加 Increasing aleurone layer number and pericarp yield for elevated nutrient content in maize
Michael N Paulsmeyer, John A Juvik
G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics Published:18 April 2023
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkad085
Abstract
The bran is a nutritive fraction of the maize (Zea mays L.) kernel containing micronutrients, quality protein, and antioxidants beneficial for human health. Bran consists of two major components: aleurone and pericarp. Increasing this nutritive fraction would therefore have implications on biofortification of maize. Since quantification of these two layers is difficult, the goals of this study were to develop efficient techniques for analyzing these layers and to develop molecular markers for pericarp and aleurone yield. Two populations with various characteristics were genotyped using genotyping-by-sequencing. The first was a yellow corn population with contrasting pericarp thicknesses. The second was a blue corn population segregating for Intensifier1 alleles. Both populations segregated for the multiple aleurone layer (MAL) trait that is known to increase aleurone yield. In this study, it was found that MALs are mostly determined by a locus on chromosome 8, but several minor loci are also involved. The inheritance of MALs was complex and seemingly more additive than dominant. In the blue corn population, anthocyanin content increased 20 to 30% with the addition of MALs demonstrating its effectiveness at increasing aleurone yield. Elemental analysis was performed on MAL lines and indicated a role of MALs in increasing iron content in the grain. QTL analyses are presented in this study on many pericarp, aleurone, and grain quality traits. Molecular markers were also tested for the MAL locus on chromosome 8 and candidate genes are discussed. Results of this study may assist plant breeders enhancing anthocyanin content and other beneficial phytonutrients in maize.
