Increase of tocopherols, phytosterols, and carotenoids in high-oil subtropical maize after recurrent selection

Subtropical high‐oil maize (HOM) genotypes have been successfully developed but further evaluation of the content of liposoluble nutraceuticals is essential. The aim of this study was to determine the concentration and profile of tocopherols, phytosterols and carotenoids in HOM and the effects of high‐oil selection in white and yellow subtropical populations.Results indicated that recurrent selection increase of germ proportion (9 to 12%) in total kernel had a direct effect in oil content and increased contents of carotenoids, tocopherols and phytosterols. Particularly, carotenoids improved only in yellow populations with an improvement in total carotenoid (from 13 to 17 of mg/kg dw), provitamin A, β‐carotenes and β‐cryptoxanthin. α‐ and γ‐tocopherols had an overall increase in total content (up to 39 mg/kg dw). Total phytosterols increased significantly in both populations with similar changes in composition (up to 374 mg/kg dw). β‐sitosterol was the predominant phytosterol associated with HOM.Recurrent selection for high‐oil in subtropical maize effectively altered the liposoluble nutraceuticals compounds of improved kernels in terms of carotenoids, tocopherols and phytosterols with modifications in their profiles.This research demonstrated that recurrent selection is an effective traditional breeding tool that improved oil, tocopherols, phytosterols and carotenoids in subtropical maize. This investigation is a first step for understanding how the improvement of oil content affects the lipophilic nutraceuticals content.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.