30 Apr Single cross hybrids of quality protein maize for food and nutritional security of the nation.
देश के भोजन और पोषण संबंधी सुरक्षा के लिए गुणवत्ता प्रोटीन मक्का के एकल क्रॉस संकर। Maize is an important coarse grain cereal crop of India accounting for ca 8.5% to the food basket (Anonymous, 2010). With its high carbohydrates, fats, proteins, some of vitamins and minerals, it is nutritious for human consumption, and is hence termed as nutricereal. Maize grain is also used as an important ingredient of feed for cattle, poultry, pig or fish meals. The maize grain on an average, contains 14.9 % moisture, 11.1 % protein, 3.6 % fat, 2.7 % fibre, 66.2 % other carbohydrates and 1.5% minerals (National Institute of Nutrition, 2002). The kernel protein is made up of five different fractions, viz. albumin 7 %, globulin 5 %, non-protein nitrogen 6 %, prolamine 52 % and glutelin 25 % and the left over 5 % is residual nitrogen. The protein quality is considered poor due to the presence of large concentrations of an alcohol soluble protein fraction called "prolamine" also known as 'Zein' in the endosperm. Zein , deficient in two essential amino acids, viz lysine and tryptophan, contributes 50 - 70 % of the total protein, due to this obvious reason the protein of maize grain is low in lysine and tryptophan. On the...