Purdue University researchers have identified genes that can be used to naturally convert white or yellow corn to orange corn that is rich in provitamin A carotenoids. The biofortified orange corn can help combat vitamin A deficiency that causes blindness in up to 500,000 children a year, mostly in poor countries, according to the World Health Organization.
Purdue agronomy professor Torbert Rocheford that the research provides the genetic blueprint to quickly and cost-effectively produce the orange corn with vitamin A-rich kernels by "using natural plant breeding methods, not transgenics."
The corn is "dent corn," widely used in food manufacturing as a base ingredient for cornmeal flour, corn chips, tortillas and taco shells.
In a statement, Rocheford said that identifying the genes will help plant breeders develop novel biofortified corn varieties for Africa and in the U.S. There is now sufficient genetic information, he said, "to begin developing a major public-private sector collaboration" with the goal of providing orange corn to farmers throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
Some varieties of orange corn are already grown in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Ghana. However, Rocheford said efforts are needed to produce orange corn with higher levels of Vitamin A that can make a difference in improving health of African consumers.
Biofortified orange corn can also strengthen the immune system, researchers said, and prevent macular degeneration that causes visual impairments and blindness, especially in the elderly.
Rocheford said that an open-pollinated variety of the orange corn could be available for organic and local growers in the U.S. by 2016.
(Purdue Agricultural Communication photo/Natalie van Hoose)
