Abstract

GALICIA-FLORES, Luis A; ISLAS-CABALLERO, Catalina; ROSALES-NOLASCO, Aldo  and  PALACIOS-ROJAS, Natalia. Inexpensive and efficient colorimetric method for the lysine cuantification on whole maize grain. Rev. fitotec. mex [online]. 2011, vol.34, n.4, pp.285-289. ISSN 0187-7380.

Quality protein maize (QPM, Zea mays L.) has higher content of lysine and tryptophan, two essential amino acids usually present in low quantities in maize kernels. The colorimetric method used currently to measure lysine in maize is time consuming and poorly reproducible. This paper describes a modification to the methodology for colorimetric determination of lysine in whole grains of maize. Reduction of costly reagents, risks for operators and reduction in the number of steps to prepare the calibration curve are the main modifications done to the previous protocol and which largely improve the efficiency and cost of the analysis. The alternative methodology was validated by comparison with the reference colorimetric method and NIR, obtaining high coefficients of determination (R²) 0.97 and 0.85, respectively. The modified method is inexpensive, reliable and fast, and can be used for the determination of lysine in large number of samples for breeding programs.

Keywords : Colorimetric method; modification; Quality protein maize (QPM); lysine.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )