Phosphate is a limiting plant nutrient and essential for corn growth and development. Thus, the impact of phosphate fertilization, location, and the variety of modern corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids on the profiles of fatty acids, carotenoids, and tocochromanols (vitamin E) was assessed in corn grains. Eight different corn hybrids were grown with (52.9 kg of phosphorus per ha) or without starter fertilizer at three experimental sites in Germany. Location (p < 0.05) and genetics (p < 0.001) but not phosphate fertilization significantly altered the concentrations of individual saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, and tocochromanols. Significant (p < 0.05) interaction effects on the concentrations were mainly observed between the variety and the location. In conclusion, the choice of the corn variety had a more significant impact on the biosynthesis of fatty acids, carotenoids, and tocochromanols than the location or phosphate application on phosphate-sufficient soils.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.