Abstract:

Changes in color and carotenoid content of yellow corn grain during grain filling, milky and dough stages were
investigated by high performance liquid chromatography atmospheric-diode array detection-atmospheric pressure chemical
ionization-mass spectrometry HPLC-DAD-APCI-MS with a C30 column. The accumulation pattern of caroteniods and the
relationship between carotenoid content and color were also discussed. The results showed that consistent trends of total
carotenoid content and color were observed for yellow corn grain during the whole developmental process. As the maturation
proceeded, the total carotenoid content constantly increased, and corn grain gradually turned yellow; the milky stage was
the critical period of carotenoid accumulation. The changes in individual carotenoid content were different during the whole
developmental process. The contents of antheraxanthin, zeaxanthin, lutein, α-cryptoxanthin and β-cryptoxanthin had an
upward trend, while the content of neoxanthin tended to decline as the developmental stage progressed although α-carotene
and β-caotene had no significant change. Correlation analysis between carotenoid content and color indicated highly
significantly or significantly positive relationships between the contents of antheraxanthin, zeaxanthin, lutein, α-cryptoxanthin
and β-cryptoxanthin and L*, a*, b* and C color values, whereas these carotenoids were negatively related to H value.

Key words: yellow corn, carotenoids, development, color