Phytochemical and Nutraceutical Changes during Recurrent Selection for Storage Pest Resistance in Tropical Maize

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a staple crop used for subsistence by smallholder farmers around the world, who usually store grain for gradual use. During the course of storage, losses due to storage pests often reach 20%. Over three cycles of recurrent selection, population improvement to develop sources of resistance to the larger grain borer (Prostephanus truncates) and the maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais) resulted in a new population called Population 84 (P84). The objective of this study was to evaluate the biophysical, phytochemical, and nutraceutical profile changes in P84 derived from three cycles of selection for resistance. Insect resistance parameters were evaluated using bioassay and biophysical, phytochemical, and nutraceutical parameters. Resistance to storage pests increased by two-to threefold after three cycles of selection for maize weevil and larger grain borer, respectively. The major factors related to enhanced resistance are kernel hardness (10% increase) and proportion of pericarp (68% increase) in the kernel. Comparing the phytochemical composition of the pericarp cell wall before and after selection revealed an elevated level of cell wall-bound components (42% increase), including ferulic and diferulic acids (14% and twofold increase, respectively). Increases of 18% in free phenolic acid were found in the endosperm. A significant association between insect resistance with antioxidant activity (r > 0.75) establishes the possibility of seeking increased nutrients beneficial for human health in the same maize germplasm selected for increased insect resistance and stemming from the same compounds. Population 84 is a good source for resistance to postharvest pests with enhanced nutraceutical properties.