Sapna
ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, New Delhi, India
Title: Shelf-life studies on b-carotene and total carotenoids in maize
Biography
Biography: Sapna
Abstract
The present investigations were done to standardize the storage techniques for total carotenoids and B-carotene in maizes as carotenoids are subject to destruction on storage. Thirteen public and private hybrids as well as composites taken for the study were stored using different storage techniques. Total catoenoids were estimated using standard procedure whereas b-carotene which is a precursor for vitamin-A was standardized by using Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography on an interval of 2 months and its degradation was modelled during storage. The results showed that lyophilized seed showed minimum destruction of carotenoids and highest nutritive value and metal bin was the next strategic option to be followed to check the carotenoids destruction. In contrast, mud bin was having highest level of destruction. Carotenoids content and hence vitamin-A activity decreased markedly with time. Rate of degradation of b-carotene was less in lyophilized seeds as compared to other storage techniques. The average shelf-life at room temperature was approximately six months for total carotenoids while much less for b-carotene.