Zea mays L corps apport to human consumption, complex matrices of compounds such as free and bounded phenolics, flavonoids and anthocyanins with high nutritional values and proved health benefits, which are dynamically synthesized since sprouting of grains. This study presents for the first time a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) non-targeted metabolomics study of aqueous methanolic extracts of Mexican native blue and red Zea mays L. sprouts, produced with a specific germination scheme, at three different controlled temperatures. The proposed model comprises the rationalization of (poly)-phenolics metabolism dynamics as a function of sprouting time and temperature, which can be identified by more than thirty 1H NMR discriminant resonances at a chemical shift range between 7.7 and 6.3 ppm -mostly comprising typical hydroxyphenyl polyphenolic 1H frequencies- obtained with multivariate statistical analysis. Both principal component (PCA) and orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) reveal a unique maize strain-, temperature- and time-dependent mapping of polyphenolic machinery during sprouting that might serve for optimizing germination schemes. Strengths and limitations of PCA and OPLS-DA analysis of non-targeted (poly)-phenolics NMR data matrix obtained from different blue and red maize sprouts’ methanolic extracts are discussed. Furthermore, a clear inverse correlation between temperature- and time-dependent signal intensity modulation of phenolic resonances and water line widths at half height is observed, suggesting a mechanism of how solvent could participate within the complex metabolomic matrix formation during germination. Finally, non-targeted NMR metabolomics data from sprouts’ methanolic extracts are contrasted with temperature- and time-dependent total phenolic contents obtained with standard quantitative methods.

<p><strong>Background</strong>. In contract farming, planned production is desirable. The planned artificial production of huitlacoche can be achieved by successive sowing dates to guarantee the continuous supply of the product throughout the year. <strong>Objective</strong>. To analyze the yield of huitlacoche and its harvest distribution through cutting in nine maize commercial hybrids. <strong>Methodology</strong>.  An experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design, with four replications in Chapingo State of México, México. Measurements of yield and quality (gall size) of the fungus were made in four cuts per hybrid during harvest. <strong>Results</strong>. In the nine hybrids studied, most of the harvest was concentrated in the second cutting. The Cronos and Dk-2042 hybrids (3,608 kg·ha^-1 and 3,301 kg·ha^-1, respectively) were the best in yield and quality of fungal galls and with contrasting distribution of their harvest. <strong>Implications.</strong> Hybrids Cronos and Dk-2042 can be used in an intensive and continuous production unit of huitlacoche. Cronos can be used to attend a daily demand of 1.5 t of fresh huitlacoche; while the Dk-2042 can be used to satisfy a weekly demand of 6 t, due to the respective overlaps of harvest among successive sowing dates. A surface of 14 ha is required, sowing 1 ha.week^-1 of corn with a yield of 6 t.ha^-1 to offer to the market 1.5 t.día^-1 (Cronos hybrid) or 6 t.week^-1 (Dk-2042 hybrid), depending on theirs contrasting distribution of the harvest among cutting. <strong>Conclusions</strong>. There are clear differences among the distribution of the harvested huitlacoche among commercial maize hybrids. The analysis of the yield per cutting allows to establish the varietal pattern of fungus harvest. Sequential plantings of complementary harvesting dynamics hybrids can be scheduled to serve continuous supply contracts.<strong></strong></p>

No abstract