本文旨在研究不同浓度NaCl处理对发芽玉米籽粒中类胡萝卜素富集、抗氧化能力及其合成途径中关键酶基因表达量的影响。结果表明，NaCl胁迫下，发芽3 d玉米籽粒的发芽率和芽长显著下降，呼吸强度显著增加。随NaCl浓度升高，发芽玉米籽粒中类胡萝卜素含量及其合成途径中关键酶基因表达量先上升后下降，300 mmol/L NaCl处理下均达到最大值，其中叶黄素和玉米黄质含量分别为对照的1.19和1.30倍。同时，其超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶活性及总抗氧化能力显著增加。NaCl浓度大于300 mmo/L时，关键酶基因相对表达量均下降，类胡萝卜素的合成被抑制。NaCl处理可提高类胡萝卜素合成相关酶基因表达量，促进叶黄素、玉米黄质等类胡萝卜素富集，同时其抗氧化能力有所提高。研究结果为玉米籽粒富集类胡萝卜素开创了新思路，并为开发玉米籽粒保健功能食品提供理论依据和技术支撑。

In the present study, the effects of different concentrations of NaCl on the carotenoid content, antioxidant capacity and relative expression levels of key enzyme genes in germinated corn kernels were investigated. The results showed that NaCl stress significantly reduced the germination rate and sprout length of corn kernels and increased the respiratory intensity after 3 days of germination. With the increasing concentration of NaCl, the carotenoid content and the expression levels of key enzyme genes in the germinated corn kernels increased first, then decreased. The lutein and zeaxanthin contents reached maximum values in 300 mmol/L of NaCl treatment, which were 1.19 and 1.30 times of the control, respectively. Meanwhile, NaCl stress led to a significant increase in SOD, POD activities and total antioxidant capacity. However, the expression levels of key enzyme genes decreased and the synthesis of carotenoids were inhibited when NaCl concentration is greater than 300 mmol/L. The results suggest that NaCl treatment could increase the expression levels of related genes in germinated corn kernels and promote the enrichment of carotenoids such as lutein and zeaxanthin. Moreover, the antioxidant capacity also increased. The present study provides new methods for enriching carotenoids in yellow corn kernels, and provides theoretical basis and technical support for the development of health functional foods with germinated corn kernels.

国家自然科学基金项目（31771984）；江苏省自然科学基金项目（BK20180305）；江苏省333工程培养资金资助项目（013076511706）