German researchers develop quick test to measure grits yield in food-grade maize
German researchers have developed a quick test that determines the grits yield of a food maize variety without milling the grain. Experts see food maize as an interesting alternative for farmers, especially in organic farming.
Researchers in Germany have developed a fast, inexpensive test that shows how much maize grits can be obtained from a given food-grade maize variety. This crop is grown much like grain maize but is used for human food rather than animal feed. According to the German Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE), it has so far played a minor role in the country, and larger quantities of the raw material are imported even though many regions have good growing conditions.
Project aims and results
Food maize was studied over three years by specialists from the Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture (LfL) and the research and development unit of the Dottenfelderhof farm (FZD) in the project "Speise-MaisQual". It was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture through the Federal Organic Farming Scheme. The main obstacle so far has been a lack of knowledge about suitable varieties.
The project produced a cultivation requirements profile and a quick test for grits yield, an important quality trait of food maize. The test relies on measuring devices using near-infrared light and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). For the first time, the potential grits yield can be determined on the whole kernel without milling it. The researchers say this opens up options for variety testing, breeding and quality assurance.
Comparing varieties
In principle, cultivation does not differ from feed grain maize, but choosing the right variety is decisive. Low susceptibility to fungal diseases matters, since stricter limits for mould toxins apply to food-grade produce.
The researchers tested 90 food maize varieties: current hybrids, historic landraces and populations whose seed can be saved from the farmer's own harvest. A clear trade-off emerged between yield and composition. Hybrids gave the highest grain yields but had low levels of valuable ingredients and lower grits yield. Landraces stood out with high protein, essential amino acid and mineral content and high grits yield, but their yields were considerably lower. The populations ranked between hybrids and landraces on all measures.
Experts see considerable potential for food maize in Germany, provided there is targeted variety selection, suitable breeding and better-developed processing.
