Effects of Different Concentrations of NaCl Treatment on Carotenoid Enrichment in Germinated Corn
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Abstract:
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.
