To date, the foliar anthocyanin content was either determined via the pH differential or HPLC methods, both of which are slow and destructive. Here, a hyperspectral model was established to estimate the foliar anthocyanin content of purple corn (Zea mays L. var. Jingzi No. 1). The reflectivity (P) of the foliar hyperspectral was inverted to 1/P, lg P, 1/lg P, P′, 1/P′, lgP′, and 1/lgP′. The correlation coefficient between these inversions and the foliar anthocyanin content was plotted against the hyperspectral wavelength. The wavelength of inversions around 650 nm was sensitive to the foliar anthocyanin content. The hyperspectral model was fitted via linear, polynomial, power, exponential, and logarithmic functions with the sensitive band as independent variable and the anthocyanin content as function. The hyperspectral model (y = 3,000,000,000 × W 685 4.5896) fitted via inversion of lgP′ showed the highest determination coefficients (0.768) among all models. The hyperspectral model was well validated with a determination coefficient of 0.932 and an RMSE of 0.0065. Moreover, the accuracy and stability of the hyperspectral model were further enhanced with a determination coefficient of 0.954 and RMSE of 0.0047 when the anthocyanin content of the sample was below 20 mg/g. Hence, the hyperspectral model estimated the foliar anthocyanin content of purple corn quickly and nondestructively.

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