title: Micronutrient and functional compounds biofortification of maize grains.
abstract: Maize, in addition to being the main staple food in many countries, is used in the production of hundreds of products. It is rich in compounds with potential benefits to health, such as carotenoids, phenolic compounds, vitamin E, and minerals that act as cofactors for antioxidant enzymes. Many of these compounds have been neglected thus far in the scientific literature. Nevertheless, deficiencies in the precursors of vitamin A and some minerals, such as iron and zinc, in maize, in association with the great genetic variability in its cultivars and our genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic knowledge of this species make targeted biofortification strategies for maize promising. This review discusses the potential of the main microconstituents found in maize with a focus on studies aimed at biofortification.
authors.affiliation: a EMBRAPA Clima Temperado, Rodovia BR 396 , Km 78 Caixa Postal 403, CEP 96001-970, Pelotas , RS , Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael da Silva
authors.initials: Rda S
authors.lastname: Messias
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.forename: Sérgio Delmar Dos Anjos E
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Manoel Artigas
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Schirmer
authors.forename: César Valmor
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Rombaldi
mesh_terms: D014644:Genetic Variation; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000737:chemistry*; D008903:Minerals / Q000737:chemistry; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients; D008903:Minerals; D014801:Vitamin A
keywords: Grain; antioxidants; endogenous fortification; minerals